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Man Convicted In Murder Of Silver Lake Pizza Deliveryman
A 19-year-old man has been convicted in last year's fatal shooting of a pizza deliveryman, who was driving home from his shift with two coworkers in Silver Lake.Jose Beltran, 19, was convicted today of second-degree murder among other charges in the death of Juan David Vasquez Loma, 25, according to City News Service. Loma was shot in the head on August 7, 2011 and died a week later after being taken off life support.
Loma was a pizza deliveryman for Garage Pizza and also an employee of El Chavo. He lived with his mother in Silver Lake and took on the two jobs to help support family back in Mexico.
Beltran was not convicted of committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang—police described it as a road-rage attack. Loma had previously passed Beltran's car at a stop sign less than a mile away. Then, Beltran shot Loma once in the head, causing Loma to crash into a parked car.
Beltran was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder, since Loma's co-workers were with him in the car. He was also charged with shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and carrying a loaded gun that wasn't registered to him.
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Beltran is due back for sentencing on November 1, CNS reports. His defense attorney Simon Aval is expected to seek a retrial.
Related:
Silver Lake 'Road Rage' Victim Has Died
Silver Lake Road Rage Suspect Ordered to Stand Trial, Witness Remembers Shooter Looking at Him
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