Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/24/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant Larry Scoufos Chief Deputy District Attorney: Diana Gomez

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANTS FOUND GUILTY OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that a Sonoma County jury found Gabriel Tafolla, 20, and his brother Adan Valdovinos, 35, guilty of murder in the first degree and attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation for the September 6, 2005 slaying of Daniel Camargo, 19, and attempted killing of Jose Tello, 19. The jury returned the guilty verdicts late Friday afternoon after less than six hours of deliberations. Jurors also found that Gabriel Tafolla personally used a firearm, discharged a firearm and discharged a firearm causing death. He is facing a maximum of 50 to life for the murder and life plus 20 years for the attempted murder. Adan Valdovinos is facing 25 to life for murder and life for the attempted murder.

The convictions resulted from a September 6, 2005 shooting that occurred in Santa Rosa. The victims and the defendants had an earlier confrontation at a Santa Rosa Taco truck in which the victims threw hot sauce at the defendant’s car. The defendants drove to their home where Gabriel Tafolla retrieved a sawed-off shotgun. Valdovinos and Tafolla then went out looking for the victims. Tafolla exited Valdovinos’ vehicle with the shotgun and pointed it at Camargo and Tello. After a brief struggle over the gun, Tafolla fatally fired the weapon at Camargo. He then turned the gun and fired once at Manuel Tello who was trying to run away. Tello was not injured in the incident.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "The jury’s verdict shows that the system works and that our community will not tolerate gun violence."

Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2006, before the Honorable Elliot Daum.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Diana Gomez was the assigned prosecutor on the case.