SHOT INTO CROWD DECLARED MURDER JURORS CONVICT MAN WHOSE BULLET KILLED HIS COMPANION.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- A reputed gang member faces life in prison after being convicted of murder and attempted murder in the 2004 slaying of a companion among a crowd of young people gathered outside a Palmdale fast-food restaurant.

Vicente Guzman, 26, fired in the direction of 19-year-old Cedric Lane and wounded him, but also hit and killed one of Guzman's own companions, Marcus Calzada, 18, of Palmdale.

``It's tragic for everyone. In these cases, nobody wins and everybody loses,'' Deputy District Attorney Robert Sherwood said. ``I think it's the right verdict.''

He said an Antelope Valley Superior Court jury deliberated about 2 1/2 days before finding Guzman guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and discharging a firearm from an automobile at another person.

Jurors also found that a gun allegation is true.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 12. The murder charge and gun allegation each carry a penalty of 25 years to life in prison.

The defense argued that Guzman acted in self-defense, Sherwood said. Guzman's attorney, Deputy Alternate Public Defender Carlos Morales, declined to comment.

The Sept. 19, 2004, shooting among a crowd of teenagers and young adults hanging out near a Del Taco restaurant apparently stemmed from a dispute earlier at a party, officials said.

Prosecutors said a group of young African-American men and young Latino men had argued, and the African-Americans threatened the Latinos. After the party broke up, the Latino men went looking for the African-Americans who had threatened them, prosecutors said.

Guzman, Calzada and other companions drove up just after midnight outside a Del Taco restaurant on Avenue S at 25th Street East and spotted some African-American teens, officials said.

The car's occupants chased after the African-American teens, yelling racial epithets. Lane was part of the group that was being chased, but he had not been at the party.

The chase stopped because sheriff's deputies were already there dispersing the large crowd, officials said.

When the Latinos got back in their car, they saw Lane holding a stick. Calzada got out of the vehicle and went over to confront Lane to have a fistfight, officials said.

Guzman fired at least four rounds in the direction of Lane, hitting Calzada in the head and Lane in the abdomen.

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

[phone]