Michael Escobar, the man convicted in the 2014 shooting deaths of a Watsonville man and a 4-year-old girl has been sentenced to two life sentences in prison.
Escobar was found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges, in connection to the deaths of 4-year-old Jaelyn Maria Zavala and 33-year-old Ramon Rendon.
The shooting took place in October 2014 near the Fish House Bar and Grill and the Valley Inn Motel in Watsonville.
The 4-year-old was inside the restaurant at the time and was caught in the crossfire and wounded. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.
Outside the motel, police found Rendon dead on the ground.
Investigators said they believe the shooting was gang-related.
Today would have been Rendon’s 39th birthday. Escobar is expected to appeal the sentence.
