- Thursday January 5th, 2012 :: 03:45 p.m. PST
Jurors recommend death for man convicted in 2004 Whittier mistaken-identity murder
LACoDA News Release
Jan. 3, 2012
Jurors recommend death for man convicted in mistaken-identity murder
Following approximately five days of deliberations, jurors Tuesday recommended death for a 39-year-old man convicted of two first-degree gang murders including the fatal stabbing of a man whose brother was the intended target.
Gabriel Alexander Ronquillo of La Habra was convicted on Dec. 9, 2011, of the 2004 murder of Gary Frausto, 47, and the 1999 murder of David Borunda, 23. Jurors found true special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by an active gang member as to victim Frausto.
Jurors additionally found true special allegations of murder for the benefit of a street gang; use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife; and principal discharge of a firearm causing death.
Deputy District Attorneys Hector Gutierrez and Dayan Mathai of the Hardcore Gang Division prosecuted the case.
Norwalk Superior Court Judge Dewey Falcone said the defendant would be formally sentenced on Feb. 8 in Department W.
At the behest of the Mexican Mafia, Ronquillo was to carry out a hit on the brother of victim Frausto. In a case of mistaken identity, however, Ronquillo stabbed Frausto multiple times with a large knife when the victim answered a knock at the door at about midnight on Aug. 19, 2004.
Ronquillo was arrested nearby a short time later when the getaway car would not start.
Victim Borunda, a rival gang member, was fatally shot on June 20, 1999, while seated in the back seat of a car. Ronquillo, whose fellow gang member fired the gun, drove the shooter to the location and after he knowingly allowed the man to borrow his firearm for the purpose of killing Borunda.
Both murders occurred in Whittier and were investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
sdm
Shiara Dávila-Morales
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