Santa Ana gangbanger gets life without parole for killing innocent man – New Santa Ana

Alexis Ascencion, a 25-year-old Santa Ana resident, was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the gang-related fatal shooting of a man outside a Santa Ana apartment complex six years ago.

Ascension was convicted Feb. 15 of felony counts of first-degree murder and participation in gang activity, with special circumstances of gang activity and enhanced penalties for discharge of a gun resulting in death.

Asencion’s co-accused, Félix Martínez Vargas of Santa Ana, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on September 2, 2022 and his sentencing is still pending.

Both suspects were charged in connection with the murder Mariano Labra Ramosa 36-year-old Santa Ana resident, on December 1, 2017. Authorities falsely said Ascencion was a rival gang member.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard King continued it on Ascension by adding another 25 years of life in prison to his life without parole.

Judge King also denied a request from Ascencion’s attorney to waive an earlier strike to reduce the sentence.

King described Asencion’s criminal actions as “payback.”

Judge King also alleged that Ascencion drove into the territory of rival gangs and selected a victim at random. King also said that Ascension’s actions were intentional and there was no justification for them. He considered the matter ‘worsened’.

Judge King labeled the shooting a “senseless act of violence.” and he said the shooting was done “to show the strength of Ascension’s gang.”

Ascencion’s innocent victim Ramos “went to get salt to make food for his wife, who was blind,” Judge King said. The couple had a “healthy marriage” and Ramos was the main breadwinner, according to Judge King.

Judge King is not done with Ascension yet. He has a hearing scheduled for June 28 to consider whether Ascension can be ordered to make restitution from his earnings as a prisoner.

Vargas testified in Ascencion’s first trial in July 2022. A mistrial was declared when jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt. That means some ridiculous juror thought Ascension wasn’t guilty!

The defendants, along with two boys ages 15 and 16, were driving into rival gang territory when they spotted two men outside an apartment complex on W. Myrtle St. between 1913 and 1909, prosecutors said in a court brief.

Ascencion asked Vargas, the driver, to stop before Ascencion jumped out and opened fire on the innocent victim, wounding him in the leg with two shots, prosecutors said.

A bullet struck an artery in the head bone and Ramos, who had no gang ties, quickly bled to death, prosecutors said.

Ascencion ran back to the car like a coward and the gangbangers then fled the area.

Police found the vehicle involved in the shooting just before 9 p.m. that evening and arrested the driver.

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