King City men convicted of murder in 2012 double shooting in San Ardo

Two King City men have been found guilty of murder in the gang-related shooting deaths of two people in San Ardo.

Jurors convicted 21-year-old Juan Salazar Jr. and Enrique Lopez, 25, after a five-week trial.

Prosecutors said Salazar and Lopez were Sureno gang members who attended a gang meeting in San Ardo in July 2012 to discuss the status of fellow Sureno gang member Daniel Fraga.

At trial, gang members testified that Lopez, a gang leader, ordered a hit on Fraga. Lopez also ordered the ritual beating of a juvenile member of the gang.

Fraga, who was friends with the girl, went to confront Salazar and Lopez. He was accompanied by the girl’s cousin, Hector Reyes, to rescue the beaten girl.

A fight broke out and Salazar pulled out a gun and ordered Reyes and Fraga into the bathroom, where he fired nine shots, killing them.

Salazar fled to Mexico with his underage girlfriend, prompting an Amber Alert as her family searched for her. He later turned himself in at the Mexico-U.S. border.

Salazar was convicted of two counts of first degree murder, along with gang enhancements, and gun enhancements. He faces more than 100 years-to-life in prison.

Lopez was convicted of second-degree murder, along with gang enhancements and additional charges for ordering the beating of the juvenile. He faces 25 years–to-life in prison.

The two men are to be sentenced in November.