A Pinal County jury found 21-year-old Terrance Santistevan guilty last Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of two teens in Casa Grande, marking the third anniversary of the event, as reported by 12News and corroborated by AZ Family.
The conviction stems from an incident on April 24, 2022, when Danielle Murrieta, 17, and Leslie Cota, 18, were fatally shot at the Sonoran Apartments. Murrieta was transported to the hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries, while Cota died at the scene, during what police described as a "chaotic scene" found at around the time they were supposedly headed to McDonald's for dinner, 12News reported.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated Santistevan's use of a Glock handgun, modified to fire as a fully automatic weapon, dispersing over two dozen rounds into the vehicle occupied by the girls, as per accounts from 12News.
The underlying motive behind the attack seems to have been a failed settlement regarding a human smuggling operation Santistevan was involved in with another suspect, Dominic Leos, when he didn't receive the payment he expected, prosecutors say. He sought revenge, but instead of finding his intended target, authorities say Santistevan struck Cota and Murrieta in his violent outburst, which AZ Family further details as a case of mistaken identity amid his vendetta against Leos.
After the incident, Santistevan fled Arizona but was apprehended a few days later in Pflugerville, Texas, by deputy U.S. marshals. He is now awaiting sentencing scheduled for May 16, where he could potentially face life imprisonment for his crimes.
In a statement made public on Friday, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller said, "Justice has been served in our community. While nothing can undo the loss of the two young lives tragically taken, yesterday’s verdict ensures that the person responsible will be held accountable. I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence, and I hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to the families and loved ones of these young women. Human smuggling is modern day slavery that needs to be eradicated from our Country. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to ensure all those involved in human smuggling will be held accountable."
