WEST COVINA : Youth Gets Life Term for Role in Shooting at Mall

A Monrovia youth has been sentenced to life in state prison for his part in a gang-related shooting in a West Covina shopping mall that left two people wounded last year.

Edmund Luera, 18, one of two youths prosecuted in the shooting at The Plaza at West Covina, will serve at least 23 years in state prison before he is eligible for parole, Deputy Dist. Atty. Tom Falls said.

“This guy is going to do 23 years and he never killed anybody,” Falls said. “It sends a strong message to any gang member that wants to engage in violence in public.”

The heavy penalty, handed down Tuesday in Pomona Superior Court, arose because Luera and his partner, Richard Ramos, 19, were charged with special allegations of shooting into an occupied building and committing a crime on behalf of a gang. These added additional years to those for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Ramos, who pleaded guilty earlier, was sentenced to life in prison last year.

The shooting occurred at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 1992, when four Duarte gang members argued with rivals from Monrovia and El Monte. Two gang members pulled out guns and began firing, causing about 50 shoppers to run for cover.