Santa Cruz Co. Gang Member Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A man who shot at a family and several others in Santa Cruz in December 2013 was found guilty of attempted murder Friday, Santa Cruz County prosecutors said. John Jason Thomas, 44, was charged with attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, attempted robbery, assault with a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon after the Dec. 18, 2013 shooting.

A family of four with a 3-month-old baby were driving door-to-door on Bixby Street selling tamales to make extra money for the holidays when Thomas walked up to them with a loaded revolver and attempted to open the locked door of their car, prosecutors said.

He banged on the glass of the car and broke the window, then pointed the gun at a man who got out of the car and fired twice at his chest. Thomas had the wrong ammunition and the gun misfired, prosecutors said, and he proceeded to point his gun at several other people in the area.

His targets included a 15-year-old boy and a mother and daughter who were driving by, according to prosecutors. With the jury's verdict on Friday, Thomas faces a life sentence in prison. He is a validated gang member and his arrest record dates back to 1992 for multiple violent crimes, according to police.

"Mr. Thomas' conduct was terrifying, dangerous, and demonstrated an absolute lack of value for human life and people in general," District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell said in a statement. "Our office is committed to pursuing justice for victims of crime, regardless of their background, or status."

By Bay City News