Santa Ana gang member found guilty of fatally shooting an innocent man

Alexis Ascencion of Santa Ana, a 25-year-old man, was found guilty on Thursday of fatally shooting an innocent man, Mariano Labra Ramos, 36-years-old, on Dec. 1, 2017. The shooting was deemed to be gang-related.

On February 1, 2024, Ascencion stood trial in Orange County Superior Court, Central Justice Center, Department C45. On February 15, 2024, he was convicted by a jury of PC 187(a) – 1st Degree Murder, with sentencing enhancements for the use of a firearm, and for committing a homicide for the benefit of a criminal street gang. He remains in custody and will be sentenced at a hearing scheduled for April 5, 2024.

Felix Martinez Vargas of Santa Ana, a co-defendant, pleaded guilty on Sept. 2, 2022, to voluntary manslaughter. He is set to be sentenced on March 8 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Assencion’s first trial happened in July of 2022 however a mistrial was declard when the jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt, which is to say one juror screwed up the prosecution. Vargas testified in that trial.

Ascension and Vargas and two teenagers, ages 15 and 16 — drove into another gang’s territory when they saw two men in front of an apartment complex between 1913 and 1909 W. Myrtle St., according to the prosecutors in Ascencion’s case. Ascencion asked Vargas, who was driving, to stop the car. Ascencion then jumped out and shot the victim, wounding him in the leg with two shots. One of those shots severed a vital main artery and Ramos bled to death. Ramos had no ties to any gangs.

Ascension and Vargas were 18-years-old when charges were filed back in December of 2022.

Ascencion is set to be sentenced on April 5.