Man Convicted of Killing Co-Worker, Pushing Her Out of Moving Car is Sentenced

A man who fatally shot a co-worker and shoved her body from a car while leading sheriff's deputies on a chase about a year ago was sentenced today to 47 years to life in state prison.

Juan Diego Valencia, 31, was convicted Oct. 1 in Compton Superior Court of second-degree murder for the Sept. 6, 2012, killing of Selene Mayoral, along with one count of felony evading.

Jurors found true a gun allegation against Valencia, but rejected a gang allegation.

Authorities said Valencia pushed the 24-year-old woman's body from a green Mercury Cougar at the intersection of Josephine Street and Harris Avenue in Lynwood after sheriff's deputies tried to stop him for a traffic violation.

Mayoral -- who had been shot once in the head -- died at the scene.

Valencia was arrested early the next morning after barricading himself inside an apartment complex in the 14000 block of Chadron Avenue in Hawthorne, authorities said.

-- City News Service