Two gang members given life sentence for murders of rival and his girlfriend

Luis Alberto Ramirez, 19, and Jose Roberto Armendariz, 20, were convicted Sept. 27 of first- and second-degree murder with sentencing enhancements for using guns and gang activity.

Orange County Superior Court Judge William Froeberg sentenced Ramirez to life in prison without the possibility of parole and Armendariz was sentenced to 90 years to life in prison, Deputy District Attorney Kim Doyle said.

Ramirez, who was the shooter, and Armendariz went out with co-defendants Luis Menchaca and Diana Estrada just after midnight Aug. 27 and came across rival gang member Oscar Manuel Martinez, who was 24 and lived in Garden Grove, with his girlfriend, Michelle Nicole Miller, Doyle said.

Ramirez opened fire on Martinez and Miller at Pearce Street and the Garden Grove Freeway pedestrian overpass when Martinez insulted them, Doyle said.

Conflicting testimony was given during the trial about why the group went out that night, Doyle said.

"There was some testimony they were just going to get something to eat and there was some testimony they were going out tagging," Doyle said.

Ramirez faced a jury before on the charges, but a jury could not reach a verdict in 2009, Doyle said. In the most recent trial, though, Doyle was able to prosecute Ramirez and Armandariz together and could tell jurors about prior gang shootings they were involved in, Doyle said.