O.C. gang member charged in ‘unprovoked’ murder of rival, 14
A gang member from Santa Ana has been charged with murder in the “unprovoked” stabbing of a 14-year-old boy who had ties to a rival gang, Orange County prosecutors said.
Armando Andres Carachure, 25, has been charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder and one felony count of street terrorism with sentencing enhancements for his alleged involvement with a criminal street gang, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Carachure is set to be arraigned Friday. Prosecutors said that if he’s convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Because of the special circumstances designation, prosecutors said they could pursue the death penalty but have yet to make that determination.
Fernando Cuevas, 27, and Luis Francisco Gaytan, 19, have also been charged in the case with one felony count of accessory after the fact and one felony count of street terrorism. They also face sentencing enhancements because of ties to a criminal street gang, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said that on the night of June 21, Carachure -- along with a 12-year-old gang member -- approached Fidel Armando Guajardo in Santa Ana’s Jerome Park.
Prosecutors said Carachure asked Guajardo, who was on a bike, his gang affiliation then attacked him and chased him down the street. He caught up to Guajardo, pushed him against a vehicle and stabbed him in the back and fled. The boy collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Prosecutors said Carachure fled to Gaytan’s house, where Gaytan “aided” Carachure by giving him a cellphone he used to call for a ride to leave the area. He called Cuevas, who came to Gaytan’s house to pick him and Gaytan up. Before they left, Carachure cleaned the blood off himself and changed into fresh clothes, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Cuevas, who is being held on $1-million bail, has two prior strike convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to sell. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison.
Gaytan, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of seven years in state prison. He is also being held on $1-million bail.
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Twitter: @rar
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