Man Gets Life Without Parole for Venice Double Murders

A gang member was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting deaths of two young men at a Venice-area park.

Michael Anthony Mariscal, 22, was found guilty Nov. 12 of first-degree murder for the June 22, 2011, killings of Salvador Diaz, 18, and Alan Mateo, 19.

Jurors found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder carried out to further the activities of a criminal street gang. Mariscal also was convicted of three counts of attempted murder and one count each of street terrorism and felon in possession of a firearm.

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Diaz and Mateo were sitting in the bleachers near a baseball diamond at Penmar Park in the 1300 block of Lake Street when Mariscal walked up, made gang references and opened fire, authorities said.

A third person -- described at the time as a sophomore at Venice High School -- was shot in the leg.

Two other teens escaped without injury.

• City News Service