Youth Gets 30 Years to Life in Apartment Owner’s Killing : Violence: The 17-year-old belongs to a gang that deals drugs on Blythe Street, police say. Because of his age, he must be freed in eight years.

A 17-year-old from Panorama City was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in prison for the shooting death of a Blythe Street apartment owner who resisted the youth’s powerful street gang. But because of his age, the teen-ager must be released in eight years.

The youth was convicted of killing Don Aragon, 55, of Northridge on Oct. 31. The youth belongs to the Blythe Street Dukes gang, which police say controls a strip of mostly run-down buildings on Blythe Street where members deal drugs.

Aragon’s death led to an unusual court injunction banning gang activities on the street.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Paula Gonzales said the youth was sentenced by San Fernando Juvenile Court Commissioner Victor Reichman to 30 years to life for first-degree murder with a gun.

However, under state law, juveniles imprisoned by the California Youth Authority must be released no later than their 25th birthday.

“It’s awful,” Aragon’s widow, Betty, said in an interview after the sentencing. “He should be punished more than that.”

The teen-ager was one of eight to 12 gang members who surrounded Aragon and his brother, Emanuel, after the two men drove a truck to the apartment complex in the 14600 block of Blythe Street.

Although Aragon had on several occasions reported gang activity to police, authorities said the gang members were not seeking retaliation, but wanted to steal Aragon’s truck to drive to a Halloween party on Hollywood Boulevard.

But rather than turn over his keys, Aragon reached under his seat for a .38-caliber revolver. It was unclear who fired first, but in the end, Aragon shot two of the gang members before he died of a bullet wound in his chest.

One of the two gang members died from his wounds. The other, the teen-ager sentenced Friday, recovered and was charged with Aragon’s murder.

No other gang member has been charged in the case, Gonzales said.

Aragon’s death led city officials to obtain a court injunction giving police sweeping powers of arrest on the gang’s turf. Under a 22-point injunction, gang members are forbidden to engage in many otherwise legal acts, such as standing on rooftops or possessing portable phones.

The order also established an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for juvenile gang members in a 112-square-block area between Van Nuys and Sepulveda boulevards unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian or can prove they are going to school or work.

Other parts of the order seek to stop the gang from harassing or intimidating residents, trespassing, blocking streets or driveways or harboring anyone who appears to be fleeing police.

At least three gang members have been arrested since the injunction was issued in April.