Teen Gets 26-to-Life Sentence in 7-Eleven Clerk’s Slaying

One of two gang members charged in the shooting death of a La Habra 7-Eleven clerk was sentenced Thursday to 26 years to life in state prison by a judge who called him “a jerk” because he has continued to misbehave while in custody.

Benjamin Perez, 16, a Whittier youth with ties to an East Los Angeles gang, was taped by a store video camera on Aug. 21, 1995, as he ordered a fellow gang member to shoot Nirmal Singh, who was working his first night shift at the convenience store and was killed on his 44th birthday.

As Singh stood helplessly behind the counter, Perez told his companion to “pop him” after Singh asked for proof of their age to buy cigarettes. Perez shouted, “Shoot him again!” as the victim lay moaning on the floor. Perez then climbed over the counter, grabbed $40 and fled.

In September, a jury took about two hours to convict Perez of first-degree murder and robbery. His fingerprints were found on the counter and inside the cash register at the store.

A pre-sentencing report described Perez as having a “complete and utter disregard for human life.” It stated that he has stayed loyal to his gang, carving graffiti while in custody and committing other offenses.

“He has demonstrated that he is a jerk, and he’s acted that way,” Superior Court Judge Francisco P. Briseno said of Perez’s ongoing misconduct.

The 18-year-old accused of pulling the trigger, Noel Uriel Vargas Jr., faces trial in April and could get a death sentence if convicted.

After the shooting, the pair bragged to fellow gang members about the incident, going so far as to have the store surveillance video copied from a newscast so it could be shown around, according to the pre-sentencing report.

The victim had come to Orange County in 1993 in search of a better life for his children, now 14, 9 and 7. Singh had been working at the convenience store only two weeks when he was killed.

Outside court, prosecutor Elizabeth Henderson described Singh, who had emigrated from India’s northern Punjab region, as “an American success story.”

The family of the victim told the court that their deep grief continues and spoke eloquently of the Fullerton man, who was eagerly working two jobs.

“He was so joyous,” his tearful father-in-law, Amolak Singh, told the judge. . . “Wherever he would go, he would have a good effect. . . . “It’s a big loss to the family, a big loss to the community.”

Perez showed no emotion as the judge imposed sentence and declined to make any remarks. Members of Perez’s family wept throughout the sentencing. The youth looked back and waved to them as he was led from the courtroom by bailiffs.

The Whittier teenager’s courtroom demeanor had angered the victim’s family.

“I don’t think he has any remorse,” said Kuldip Singh, the victim’s brother.

But defense attorney Jennifer Keller said her client is remorseful.

“You don’t have to scratch the surface very far to see the frightened kid underneath,” she said. “He feels very sad about it.”