Jury Recommends Life Without Parole For Drive-By Shooting

Jurors recommended today that two men who took part in a drive-by shooting that killed a 19-year-old woman in Indio be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Anthony Lares, 24, and Jesse Sambrano, 25, were convicted June 7 of first-degree murder and other charges stemming from the Aug. 12, 2005, shooting death of Vanessa Torres outside a family party she was attending. Her boyfriend and another man were also shot but survived.

Both could have faced the death penalty.

A third defendant, 24-year-old Daniel Torres, who is not related to the victim, will be tried separately.