David Guadalupe Calderon, 31, has been given a life sentence without the possibility of parole and an additional 27 years for the murder of Edwin Herrera in 2012. The crime occurred in Oxnard, California, roughly 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office declared Calderon’s sentence after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in March, 2024.
Edwin Herrera, a 19-year-old father, was shot in the neck and killed on February 29, 2012, while moving his car to avoid a parking ticket. Prosecutors claim that Calderon, a registered gang member looking to prove his street credibility, and another gang associate, Carlos Hernandez, confronted Herrera aggressively, demanding to know his gang affiliation. Herrera insisted he had no gang connections, but Calderon shot him at close range and fled, leaving Herrera severely wounded. He died in the hospital.
The investigation into Herrera’s death was extensive and complicated, initially impeded by a lack of evidence and the often-observed code of silence in gang-dominated areas. A breakthrough occurred when police found that Calderon had bought a distinct type of shotgun ammunition on the murder day, which matched the shells found at the crime scene. Furthermore, Calderon sold the murder weapon to another gang member shortly after the event. The police later retrieved this weapon under a search warrant, which also uncovered more incriminating evidence against Calderon.
While serving time on an unrelated robbery charge, Calderon was overheard boasting about the murder to another prisoner. This admission, recorded during routine surveillance of inmate conversations, was instrumental in his conviction.
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick emphasized the significance of Calderon’s conviction and sentencing in providing some level of justice and closure for Herrera’s family. “Now, finally, after 12 long years, Edwin’s family will receive the justice they so rightfully deserve,” said Barrick after the sentencing.
The crime and subsequent trial have sparked a renewed dedication to fighting gang violence and improving public safety measures in Ventura County. Local authorities have committed to intensifying their efforts to monitor gang activities and liaise with community leaders to prevent such senseless violence in the future.
Carlos Hernandez, Calderon’s accomplice, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing.