People v. Garnica CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts

A. The Valerio Street Gang Valerio Street is a street gang that operates in the San Fernando Valley. Both Salas and Garnica are members of the gang; Salas’s moniker is “Lucky,” Garnica’s is “Little Joe” or “Fat Joe.” B. Incidents in 2015 and 2016 1. The Saticoy Street shootings On December 22, 2015, Salas, Garnica and others drove in a caravan to Saticoy Street in Van Nuys. Salas was transported in a car driven by his then-girlfriend, Lorena Gonzalez (Lorena).1 Garnica was transported in a Camaro driven by another Valerio Street gang member. Salas and three other gang members got out of the car. After the Camaro drove up Saticoy Street, Salas and the others followed on foot. When Salas and the others encountered pedestrians, they asked, “Where you from?” Juan Santos (Santos), one of the pedestrians, walked up to the group. When he did, someone in Salas’s group said, “Fuck you” and “Valerio,” and multiple group members opened fire on Santos and others in the street. As they fired, they shouted, “Woo hoo!” When they

1 Because the facts involve several unrelated individuals with the last name “Gonzalez,” we will use first…