A dozen of Gabriel Salgado’s friends and family members choked back tears of relief as the court clerk read guilty verdicts on all counts against Armando Yepez, 21, for a drive-by shooting in Oceano last year that left the 17-year-old Salgado dead and another juvenile wounded. Yepez was convicted of six counts in all, including first-degree murder, with enhancements for premeditation and benefiting a street gang.
San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Yepez, a Santa Maria resident, on May 17 after six months of investigation requiring 3,019 man-hours in partnership with several law enforcement agencies, according to a press release.
Yepez is due back in court on Dec. 19 to schedule a sentencing date.
This article appears in Dec 13-20, 2012.