People v. Snell CA2/8

FACTS

Snell, Williams and Hawkins were members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang. The Bounty Hunter Bloods gang and the Grape Street Crips gang were warring rivals. Members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods commonly referred to members of the Grape Street Crips as “crabs.” According to statements made by Snell while in a jail cell after he was arrested, he and some of his “homeys” were involved in an altercation of some kind with a “crab” on November 6, 2012. After the altercation, Snell told the others: “Come on now. Like, we going to get the n-----, but not right now.” On November 6, 2012, at about 7:00 p.m., Hawkins drove Snell and Williams into territory claimed by the Grape Street Crips. Hawkins drove past a group of about 8 to 10 people, and then parked the car on a nearby street. Snell and Williams got out of the car. They were wearing black hoodie sweatshirts, with the hoods pulled up over their heads. Snell and Williams walked back toward the group they had driven past. Williams said, “Where y’all from?” and then immediately began shooting. At the same time, Snell

3 Hawkins’s jury convicted him of first degree murder based on an aiding and abetting theory ––– that he drove…