Alfredo Junior Alaniz of Santa Maria Convicted for the 2021 Murder of Mario Merino Gonzalez

Alfredo Junior Alaniz of Santa Maria convicted for the 2021 murder of Mario Merino Gonzalez

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Alfredo Junior Alaniz was convicted of murder in the first-degree for the benefit of a criminal street gang in connection with the death of 19-year-old Mario Merino Gonzalez in May of 2021. In the early hours of May 16, 2021, Alaniz -a documented member of a Santa Maria gang- shot Mario Gonzalez 16 times, 15 times in the back, on North Lincoln Street stated a press release from the Santa Barbara County District Attor…

Jury Convicts Santa Maria Man for Gang-Related Murder from 2021

A Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury found a Santa Maria man guilty of first-degree murder this week for killing a rival gang member from Guadalupe in 2021 after shooting him 15 times in the back. Alfredo Alaniz Jr. Alfredo Alaniz, 25, of Santa Maria, was accused of fatally shooting Mario Angel Merino Gonzalez, 19, of Guadalupe, around 2 a.m. on May 16, 2021. The killing occurred near North Lincoln and West Mill streets, a block west of N…