Jury Selection Begins in Decade-Old Double Murder

An estimated month-long jury selection process got underway today for the trial of an Indio gang member accused in the execution-style murders of two men more than a decade ago.

Elias Carmona Lopez, 29, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Erineo Perez and Martin Garcia on Oct. 10 and Oct. 26, 2004. Both victims were shot several times in the face, authorities said.

Prosecutors are seeking capital punishment for Lopez, who faces special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, committing multiple murders and murder in furtherance of a criminal street gang.

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• Death Penalty Sought for Double Shooting

Prosecution and defense attorneys today began the process of time- qualifying potential jurors, a process aimed at finding individuals capable of making the months-long commitment of time required to hear the guilt and possible sentencing phases of the case.

Opening statements and the start of testimony is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2.

Perez was found in the front seat of his vehicle near Indio City Hall and Garcia was found dead in an Indio alley.

Lopez was an early suspect in both killings, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the case until July 2008, according to county prosecutors, who declined to reveal what additional evidence came to light.

Lopez was brought back to Riverside County in 2008 from Arizona, where he was imprisoned for armed robbery.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock