Gang Member Convicted of Killing Two Men at Venice-Area Park

A gang member was convicted today of the shooting deaths of two young men at a Venice-area park.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury convicted Michael Anthony Mariscal, 22, of two counts of first-degree murder for the June 22, 2011, killings of Salvador Diaz, 18, and Alan Mateo, 19.

Jurors found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder carried out to further the activities of a criminal street gang. Mariscal also was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and one count each of street terrorism and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set for Jan. 14 at the Airport Branch Courthouse, according to Deputy District Attorney Eugene Hanrahan.

Diaz and Mateo were sitting in the bleachers near a baseball diamond at Penmar Park in the 1300 block of Lake Street when Mariscal walked up, made gang references and opened fire, authorities said.

A third person -- a sophomore at Venice High School -- was shot in the leg.

Two other teens escaped without injury.

---City News Service

Photo: Wikipedia