SANTA ANA — A 32-year-old felon was convicted Wednesday of fatally shooting a man outside a liquor store in Santa Ana.
Manuel Chairez-Campos was convicted of first-degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the firing of a gun causing death and a count of possession of a gun by a felon. Chairez-Campos was convicted of killing 29-year-old Jorge Velasquez of Santa Ana on Aug. 13, 2023.
Jurors reached the verdicts in less than 30 minutes.
The shooting occurred about 1:50 a.m. outside of Adolfo’s liquor store at 2734 N. Bristol St.
Surveillance video from the store captured the gun-wielding defendant wearing a ski mask charging at the victim, according to a trial brief from Deputy District Attorney Ray Gennawey.
The prosecutor said Chairez-Campos pumped multiple rounds into the unarmed victim’s body before making a move to flee and then returning to shoot him one more time in the head, Gennawey said.
The defendant got into some sort of argument with Velasquez, who was sitting on a stool outside of the store, before the deadly conflict.
Nearly an hour and a half later, Chairez-Campos returned to the liquor store with a few friends, Gennawey said. One of the defendant’s friends had a conversation with Velasquez that erupted into a brawl before the defendant charged at the victim and opened fire, the prosecutor said.
Investigators linked Chairez-Campos to the shooting through graffiti evidence and a statement from one of Velasquez’s friends, who told him members of a rival gang were shooting at him, Gennawey said.
Chairez-Campos led police on a high-speed chase in Moreno Valley as they attempted to arrest him in connection with the shooting, Gennawey said.
The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder in June 2010 and admitted a sentencing enhancement for gang activity for a shooting on Oct. 24, 2008, according to court records.
Chairez-Campos was paroled in March 2022 for the attempted murder. In June of 2023 he was arrested for possession of a gun by a felon and was out on bail at the time of the killing.
Chairez-Campos is scheduled to be sentenced April 10.