US EditionDeath Sentence Expected For RivCo Gang Member Found Guilty Of Five Murders
William Armendariz III pleaded guilty to five first-degree murders linked to gang rivalry and a points-based killing 'game,' with a jury recommending the death penalty.
- On Dec. 12, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Matthew Perantoni imposed a death sentence on William Arnold Armendariz III following a jury recommendation at Riverside Hall of Justice.
- Court filings allege a special circumstance allegation of killing for benefit of a criminal street gang, noting on Aug. 30, 2020, Lara, McCafferty and Sanchez were gunned down at San Gorgonio Memorial Park Cemetery.
- After reviewing forensic and witness evidence, investigators linked multiple cold cases to Armendariz as the principal conspirator and arrested him without incident in September 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri.
- As the main case reached sentencing, most co-conspirators' cases were resolved, including Samuel Vasquez , Christopher Armendariz , and Brandon Hylkema .
- Community leaders say Banning Police Capt. Brandon Smith believes removing gang members has improved safety and may bring justice and closure to victims’ families, amid concerns about ongoing violence.
11 Articles
11 Articles
San Bernardino Sun
Gang member who murdered 5 in Banning is sentenced to death
A death sentence was handed down Friday, Dec. 12 for a Banning gang member involved in five killings — sometimes just for sport — over multiple years. In October, after deliberating only a few hours, a Riverside jury recommended capital punishment for William Arnold Armendariz III, 28, for his deadly crimes. During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Matthew Perantoni affirmed the jury’s re…
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KUNA) – A Banning gang member is expected to be sentenced to death tomorrow for conspiring to or carrying out five murders, sometimes just for fun, in the city over several years. In October, after deliberating for only a few hours, a Riverside jury recommended capital punishment for 28-year-old William Arnold Armendariz III for his deadly crimes. Armendariz pleaded guilty in July to five counts of first-degree murder and one …
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