Jury reaches verdict on murder charge, deadlocks on 2 others
Jurors are deliberating over an alleged gang member charged with murdering a 16 year-old boy outside of the Boys & Girls Club in Coachella in 2009.
The trial for Angel Anthony Esparza, 30, is underway in Indio.
Esparza is charged in the deaths of 16-year-old Angel Luna in Coachella on Dec. 3, 2009, and of farm workers Gregorio Juarez and Pedro Garcia in Thermal on Dec. 19, 2009.
Jurors have come to a verdict on one murder charge but they have deadlocked on two others. A judge asked the jury to resume deliberations at 2 p.m. to see if they can come to an agreement, but they haven’t been able to do so.
The jury is reconvening Thursday at 10 a.m. to continue deliberations. The verdict that’s been agreed upon hasn’t been announced yet.
Along with three counts of murder, Esparza faces special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder during the commission of a robbery and murder in the commission of a kidnapping. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Follow KESQ/CBS Local 2 News as the trial develops.
