Man, 28, Sentenced To 50 Years To Life For Fatal Shooting Outside Milpitas Hotel

A 28-year-old man was sentenced Friday for the murder a 19-year-old man more than two years ago outside a Milpitas hotel. Loyce Weaver, a San Jose resident, was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for fatally shooting Jesus Granados outside an Executive Inn on Jan. 14, 2014.

Weaver was also ordered to pay more than $9,800 in restitution to cover medical and funeral expenses incurred by Granados’ family during today’s hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.

A jury convicted Weaver last month of first-degree murder following a 10-day trial, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Angela Bernhard said. Granados had been with friends at the hotel for a party, where a fight broke out, Bernhard said. Granados was not part of the brawl and went outside to the parking lot where he talked with a friend, according to Bernhard.

Weaver, who was in the area to sell a stolen car, drove close by them and Granados made a remark that caused him to stop the vehicle, she said. Weaver exited the vehicle and fired shots at Granados and three friends of the victim with a Taurus 9mm handgun, according to Bernhard.

Granados was struck in the back of his neck and died from the wound, she said. “This was a completely unprovoked and senseless murder,” Bernhard said.

Superior Court Judge Ron Del Pozzo denied a request from defense attorney Mark Garver to reschedule the sentencing for the court to hear remarks from Weaver’s family and loved ones. Weaver’s mother was unable to attend today’s hearing for medical reasons. Two other people, who Weaver considers his brother and sister though they’re not biologically related, couldn’t make it to court today, Garver said.

The victim’s sister, Esmeralda Granados, was with around a dozen family members inside the courtroom and gave brief remarks from the witness stand. Esmeralda Granados called Weaver a “heartless monster” and told him to enjoy his 50 years in prison.

Esmeralda Granados also spoke on behalf of her parents, who aren’t fluent English speakers. In a statement from her mother, Esmeralda Granados said it has been “two years since this happened but for me it felt like yesterday.”

A woman who is a mother figure to Weaver and took him in for seven years was inside the courtroom and wept as a sheriff’s deputy escorted him out. Garver said that Weaver feels “horribly” about what happened as a person who didn’t have a violent past.

People who knew Weaver couldn’t imagine he’d shoot anyone and would call him a “peaceful, nonviolent person,” Garver said.

--Bay City News