Six years ago, a group of young men went on a “hunting” expedition through the streets of San Diego, prosecutors said.
Their prey? Other young men.
Dejon Satterwhite and Edward Eugene Thomas — the last of the defendants accused in series of drive-by shootings in 2004, two of which resulted in deaths — were handed punishments Friday that mean they will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Satterwhite, 21, was convicted earlier this year of multiple felony counts including first-degree murder, attempted premeditated murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was sentenced to 196 years to life.
His half-brother, Thomas, 22, who was convicted of the same charges, was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without parole, plus 96 to life, plus 40 years.
Although the men, both from Otay Mesa, were juveniles when the crimes occurred — Satterwhite was 15, Thomas was 17 — they were tried in San Diego Superior Court as adults.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon, who prosecuted the case, said the two went looking for people to shoot in rival gang territory over a weekend in August 2004, a move the prosecutor said would elevate the status of the men within the gang culture.
“Make no mistake, that’s what this case is all about,” Runyon said in court Friday. “These teenagers were hunting other young men in the community.”
Richard Wilson , 22, of Lemon Grove and Lee Smith Jr., 16, a Morse High School junior, were killed in the shootings. Others were injured.
The prosecutor has said Wilson and Smith were not gang members.
Judge Frank Brown, who presided over the three and half month trial, lamented the toll gang violence has taken, and continues to take, on the community.
“It’s a horrible, senseless loss of life and liberty,” the judge said. “For what? I don’t understand. It’s beyond me.”
Satterwhite’s lawyer, Allan Williams, was also dismayed by the conduct in the case and what would now become of the defendants, all because of gang warfare.
“I feel like I’ve wasted my entire life, my entire career, because this crap keeps going on...,” said Williams, who said he’d practiced law for 33 years. “This case has broken my heart.”
Both Williams and Thomas’ attorney, James Hutchens, argued for lesser sentences for their clients, noting that even with terms of 25 or 50 years to life, they likely would never see parole. Thomas was identified as the driver in the shootings. Satterwhite was a passenger.
But the judge was not swayed.
“You don’t get to shoot people in San Diego,” Brown said.
Also convicted in the shooting incidents were Robert Myers, who is now serving multiple life terms in prison, and Ivory Harris, who is serving a sentence of 50 years to life.
According to prosecutors, the first shooting occurred on Gribble Street in Skyline about 11 p.m. Aug. 13, 2004, when one person leaned out of a white Ford Expedition and fired shots at a group of people in front of a house. One victim was shot in the ankle.
The next shooting happened about an hour later on state Route 163 near Mission Valley. Witnesses said shots were fired from a white Expedition at a three-car caravan that had just left a Linda Vista nightclub. Wilson, one of the drivers in the caravan, was shot in the head.
The third shooting occurred the next day about 9:15 p.m. Smith was killed when shots were fired from an Expedition at a group of people at a bus stop on Meadowbrook Drive near Skyline Drive in southeastern San Diego.
Family members of the victims said Friday that they were glad to put the case behind them.
“The time has come to go forward and not backward and celebrate Richard’s life...,” said Marchell Crain, Wilson’s mother. “He was a pleasure. I have a lot to be grateful for. He was truly a blessing.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/04/long-prison-sentences-for-two-gang-hunters/
Their prey? Other young men.
Dejon Satterwhite and Edward Eugene Thomas — the last of the defendants accused in series of drive-by shootings in 2004, two of which resulted in deaths — were handed punishments Friday that mean they will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Satterwhite, 21, was convicted earlier this year of multiple felony counts including first-degree murder, attempted premeditated murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was sentenced to 196 years to life.
His half-brother, Thomas, 22, who was convicted of the same charges, was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without parole, plus 96 to life, plus 40 years.
Although the men, both from Otay Mesa, were juveniles when the crimes occurred — Satterwhite was 15, Thomas was 17 — they were tried in San Diego Superior Court as adults.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon, who prosecuted the case, said the two went looking for people to shoot in rival gang territory over a weekend in August 2004, a move the prosecutor said would elevate the status of the men within the gang culture.
“Make no mistake, that’s what this case is all about,” Runyon said in court Friday. “These teenagers were hunting other young men in the community.”
Richard Wilson , 22, of Lemon Grove and Lee Smith Jr., 16, a Morse High School junior, were killed in the shootings. Others were injured.
The prosecutor has said Wilson and Smith were not gang members.
Judge Frank Brown, who presided over the three and half month trial, lamented the toll gang violence has taken, and continues to take, on the community.
“It’s a horrible, senseless loss of life and liberty,” the judge said. “For what? I don’t understand. It’s beyond me.”
Satterwhite’s lawyer, Allan Williams, was also dismayed by the conduct in the case and what would now become of the defendants, all because of gang warfare.
“I feel like I’ve wasted my entire life, my entire career, because this crap keeps going on...,” said Williams, who said he’d practiced law for 33 years. “This case has broken my heart.”
Both Williams and Thomas’ attorney, James Hutchens, argued for lesser sentences for their clients, noting that even with terms of 25 or 50 years to life, they likely would never see parole. Thomas was identified as the driver in the shootings. Satterwhite was a passenger.
But the judge was not swayed.
“You don’t get to shoot people in San Diego,” Brown said.
Also convicted in the shooting incidents were Robert Myers, who is now serving multiple life terms in prison, and Ivory Harris, who is serving a sentence of 50 years to life.
According to prosecutors, the first shooting occurred on Gribble Street in Skyline about 11 p.m. Aug. 13, 2004, when one person leaned out of a white Ford Expedition and fired shots at a group of people in front of a house. One victim was shot in the ankle.
The next shooting happened about an hour later on state Route 163 near Mission Valley. Witnesses said shots were fired from a white Expedition at a three-car caravan that had just left a Linda Vista nightclub. Wilson, one of the drivers in the caravan, was shot in the head.
The third shooting occurred the next day about 9:15 p.m. Smith was killed when shots were fired from an Expedition at a group of people at a bus stop on Meadowbrook Drive near Skyline Drive in southeastern San Diego.
Family members of the victims said Friday that they were glad to put the case behind them.
“The time has come to go forward and not backward and celebrate Richard’s life...,” said Marchell Crain, Wilson’s mother. “He was a pleasure. I have a lot to be grateful for. He was truly a blessing.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/04/long-prison-sentences-for-two-gang-hunters/
