A Sacramento County jury has found a gang member guilty of second-degree murder in the of stabbing 24-year-old Jesus Galvan during a fight in front of a Sacramento marijuana dispensary last year.
Nestor Ardon, 23, was also convicted of personal use of a knife and a gang enhancement, as well as two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, use of a knife and gang enhancements.
On April 20, 2011, Ardon, a validated Sureno gang member, was sitting in his vehicle outside the R&R Wellness Center marijuana dispensary, on Quinta Court near Stockton Boulevard, waiting for his girlfriend to purchase marijuana, according to a Sacramento County District Attorney's Office news release. Three Norteno gang members came out of the dispensary and stood in front near Ardon's vehicle. After some looks were exchanged between them, the victims began to back up their car to leave. When Ardon reversed his truck to block them in, they got out of their car and threw water bottles at Ardon's vehicle, officials said.
Ardon was getting out of his vehicle when one of the victims rushed toward him. Ardon grabbed a multi-tool knife with both blades extended, got out of his vehicle, charged the other victims in the car and all began to fight, according to the news release. Galvan was stabbed in the neck and died a few minutes later on the way to the hospital. Two other people also were stabbed, one in the abdomen and arm, and the other in the leg. Both recovered from injuries.
Ardon is to be sentenced Jan. 11 by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny.
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