LOS ANGELES – A 19-year-old man was sentenced today to more than 77 years to life in prison for the 2011 slaying of a 25-year-old pizza deliveryman in Silver Lake, the District Attorney’s office announced.
Jose Beltran, convicted of the second-degree murder of Juan Vazquez and the attempted murder of two of his friends, was sentenced by Judge Clifford Klein, who called the Aug. 7, 2011, murder “a callous killing.”
Deputy District Attorney Amy Ashvanian with the Hardcore Gang Division prosecuted the case.
Beltran was convicted in September of fatally shooting Vazquez, who was driving two co-workers home from work about 5 a.m. The shooting occurred in the 1400 block of Silver Lake Boulevard.
Three people addressed the judge prior to sentencing, including the two men who were riding with Juan Vazquez at the time and narrowly escaped being shot.
“His mother has so much pain,” said Luis Lopez, who addressed the court through a Spanish interpreter. “(Beltran) should be locked up.”
