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Death Penalty Will Be Sought For Gang Member in Shaw Case
Prosecutors revealed today that they will seek the death penalty for Pedro Espinoza, the 18th Street "gang member accused of murdering a local high school football player," reports KTLA. Espinoza is charged with the March 2008 murder of Jamiel Shaw, a 17-year-old Los Angeles High School student who was known for his football talent. The accused, it was revealed, has been residing in the US illegally, and "had just been released from jail on a firearms charge the day before Shaw was killed." Espinoza's immigration status was part of the fuel re-stoking the fire about Special Order 40.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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