Instead of Getting Street Cred, 20-year Old Sureños Gang Member Earns Life Sentence

A Sacramento gang member who was trying to establish his street cred will instead will be spending life behind bars.

Following his August conviction, earlier today Judge James McFetridge sentenced 20-year-old Sam Perez to 32 years to life plus 10 years in prison. On August 20, 2015, a jury convicted Perez of attempted murder. 

The jury also found true a gang enhancement and allegations he committed the crime with premeditation and deliberation, and personally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury. 

On February 10, 2014, Perez, his brother, and two older Sureños gang members walked to Mack Road and Center Parkway where they got into a verbal argument with a group of Norteños. One of Perez’s fellow gang members threw the first punch. 

Perez then pulled out a loaded gun and fired at the group six times, hitting the victim in the abdomen. Perez was the youngest member of his gang and was trying to make a name for himself by shooting the victim.