Attempted Murder Suspect Arraigned Under New Law

Two men have been arraigned on attempted murder charges in a drive-by shooting last weekend that left one man injured, authorities said, prompting San Fernando’s first use of a new state law on one charge.

One of the men, the alleged shooter, faces a mandatory prison term of 25 years to life if convicted. The mandatory sentence is part of a new gun law that requires judges to impose the punishment if a person is found guilty of inflicting bodily injury with a firearm while committing a felony. This is the first time San Fernando police detectives have sought prosecution under this law, Det. Lance Steaman said Friday.

Leonel Miguel Gorgonio, 18, of Sylmar, and Juan Cruz Talamantes, 19, of San Fernando, were arrested at their homes Wednesday and charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, Steaman said.

Gorgonio also faces the special penalty enhancements under the new gun law, which took effect Jan. 1. Talamantes faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, Steaman said.

“The idea of this new statute . . . is, if a gang member or any other person is going to use a gun and ruin somebody’s life, by using a gun they’re going to ruin their own life,” he said.

Gorgonio was being held late Friday in lieu of $2.7-million bail and Talamantes was being held in lieu of $2-million bail. A preliminary hearing for the two men is scheduled for Aug. 11.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested earlier in the week and faces the same charges. He was being held without bail Friday at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Steaman said.

After midnight last Saturday, the three left a party in Sylmar and looked for rival gang members to confront, Steaman said. They confronted one man about 1:45 a.m. in an alley in the 1100 block of 4th Street.

After an argument with the man, Gorgonio fired 16 rounds from a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, Steaman said. Though none of the bullets hit the rival gang member, one of the rounds struck a pedestrian 70 feet away, he said.

The 42-year-old San Fernando man suffered a wound to his waist and spent several days in a local hospital before being released earlier this week, Steaman said. Police declined to reveal his name.