Life Without Parole for Botched Drug Deal, Murder

Life Without Parole for Botched Drug Deal, Murder

Gunman wouldn’t cooperate, identify others

LOS ANGELES — The District Attorney’s Office announced yesterday’s ruling of life sentence without the possibility of parole for Mark Cooper (28) due to a killing during a 2013 drug transaction at a Long Beach mobile home park.

Cooper was one of four robbers who arrived during Jose Vidal’s January 19th drug deal. The fourth armed assailant forced a neighbor into the home.

Vidal (24) and a female friend were at the home. When the female pushed the gunman, which knocked the gun’s magazine to the ground, Cooper threw his own gun to the armed man. Multiple shots-fired hit Vidal and the neighbor. Cooper and the three assailants fled with the marijuana.

Authorities arrived to assist and transport the two injured men to the hospital. Vidal later died from injuries suffered during the armed robbery attack.

The case was investigated by Long Beach Police. Authorities found large amounts of marijuana that Vidal was intending to sell at a unit in the Villa Park mobile home park near Jordan High School in Long Beach.

There is no information regarding the identities of the additional armed gunmen who fled the scene with the marijuana.

On March 24th, a jury found Mark Cooper guilty of nine counts in case NA094945: four counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of first-degree murder, assault with a firearm and first-degree burglary, person present.

Jurors also found true a special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed in the commission of a robbery. Additionally, jurors found true a gun allegation.

“It was a robbery that resulted in a murder,” said Prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Rachel Hardiman. “We tried to get information out of Cooper, but he didn’t cooperate.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims’ rights.

Life Without Parole for Botched Drug Deal, Murder was last modified: May 12th, 2017 by admin
Categories: Los Angeles

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