Gang banger sentenced for shooting a man during a robbery in Santa Ana

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 08CF2288: June 7, 2013

GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE PLUS 25 YEARS FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOTING-MURDER OF MAN DURING ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

*An unidentified accomplice is outstanding in this case

FULLERTON – A criminal street gang member was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 25 years to life in state prison for the shooting-murder of a man, whom the defendant had intended to rob. Albert Lubo Ruedas, 25, Garden Grove, was found guilty by a jury June 15, 2011, of one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of a robbery and for a criminal street gang purpose and one felony count of street terrorism. The sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm and criminal street gang activity were found true.

The defendant is a member of an Anaheim Hispanic criminal street gang. At approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 29, 2008, 46-year-old Daniel Jimenez Lopez was walking home alone on Sullivan Street in Santa Ana. The victim is not a gang member. Armed with a firearm, Ruedas and an unknown accomplice ran up to the victim with the intention of robbing him.

One of the defendants grabbed the victim and put him in a choke-hold as Lopez struggled to get away. Ruedas then pulled out his firearm and shot the victim four times, hitting him in the stomach and buttocks. The defendants then fled the scene without the victim’s property, leaving the victim to die.

Lopez collapsed and called 911. He died an hour later in the hospital. A passing motorist, who had observed the defendants put the victim in a headlock, made a u-turn to help Lopez only to find the victim had been shot. The witness provided a description of the defendants’ vehicle to police. The Santa Ana Police Department responded to the scene and began investigating this case.

On Aug. 3, 2008, Ruedas was stopped by the Fullerton Police Department in a routine traffic stop while driving in Fullerton. The defendant was driving the gold Chevrolet Suburban seen by the witness leaving the scene of the murder several days earlier. Ruedas was in possession of the firearm used in the murder in the center console of the vehicle.

Ruedas’ accomplice remains unidentified. Anyone with additional information regarding the identity of the unknown accomplice is encouraged to contact the District Attorney Supervising Gang Unit Investigator at (714) 347-8844.

At the sentencing today, the victim’s sister, Juana Jiminez, gave an impact statement and told the court that her brother was planning to return to Mexico to open a restaurant. She described him as a special father to his son, who feels the absence of his father. She also told the court that his friends admired him for his courage.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Duff prosecuted this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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