*CRIMINAL CASE UPDATE*
JURY FINDS GANG MEMBER GUILTY OF MURDERING INNOCENT 13-YEAR-OLD BOY SHOT WHILE RIDING IN A CAR

RIVERSIDE - Jurors on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, found a gang member guilty of first-degree murder for the drive-by shooting death of an innocent 13-year-old boy in Riverside.

Zeus Murillo Serrano, DOB 5-19-82, of Perris faces the death penalty for the Oct. 5, 2002, murder of Markess Lancaster. Serrano was the driver of the car from which another gang member, Daniel Murillo Salgado, DOB 1-13-80, of Perris fired the deadly shots.

Markess was killed as he and two friends rode in a car near the intersection of Central and Hillside in the city of Riverside. The boys were on their way to watch a local football game but first stopped at a store to get a soda. As they drove from the store, a carload of Latinos drove slowly past them, flashing gang signs for "East Side Riva," a very violent criminal street gang in Riverside.

In broad daylight and in a residential neighborhood, Salgado fired five or six shots at the car Markess and his friends were in. One shot hit Markess in the chest, killing him. Several rounds also hit the walls of a home, but did go through or hit anyone inside.

Salgado is still awaiting trial for the murder and also faces the death penalty. Another gang member in the car that day, Ricardo Ruiz, DOB 2-7-83, of Riverside was sentenced in May 2009 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Along with the first-degree murder conviction, jurors Monday also found Serrano guilty of, among other counts, conspiracy to commit murder and the attempted murders of the other occupants in the car. Jurors found that Serrano committed the crimes to benefit a criminal street gang.

The seven-woman, five-man jury will return Oct. 5, 2009, to begin the next portion of the trial: the penalty phase. During that phase, jurors must decide whether to recommend Serrano be put to death or be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case, RIF106251, is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Samah Shouka.