Moose Lodge Murderer Gets Life Without Parole:

One of three men charged in a 2005 double murder at the Santa Monica Moose Lodge hall was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 75 years to life on Friday, April 24, after being convicted on two counts of first degree murder with special circumstances on March 4.Erick Nunez, 24, of Los Angeles was convicted and sentenced for the March 5, 2005 murders of Santa Monicans Hector Bonilla and Jonathan Hernandez at a private party at the Moose Lodge in the 1600 block of Ocean Park Boulevard. At the time that an arrest warrant was issued in July 2005, Nunez was identified as aka Ector Hugo Sanchez aka “Enemy.” Co-defendant Jose Mojarro, also 24, of Los Angeles, was also convicted on two counts of first degree murder on March 4 in the Moose Lodge incident and is scheduled for sentencing May 20. He also faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, said Deputy District Attorney Alan Schneider of the Hardcore Gang Division.The third defendant, William Vasquez, 28, of Los Angeles, aka “Crook,” is awaiting trial on the Moose Lodge murders and is charged with three other gang-related murders in another case. Santa Monica police described all three defendants as members of the 18th Street gang from Los Angeles at the time the arrest warrants were issued.The murders arose out of an argument that involved several people at the private party. Hernandez was shot 17 times in the head, shoulder, and chest at close range. Bonilla attempted to assist Hernandez and was felled by multiple shots. Both victims were unarmed, said the District Attorney’s office. A third victim was shot in the leg and taken to a local hospital and treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. SMPD detectives set about to interview the 50 to 70 witnesses attending the private party. [Santa Monica Mirror, March 9-16 and August 3-9, 2005]In January 2006, defendant Nunez was wanted on an arrest warrant for the Moose Lodge murders when he attempted to flee from Sheriff’s deputies, shot an AK47 at them, and took a family hostage during the pursuit, said the District Attorney’s office. Nunez was convicted in that case two years ago and was sentenced to 194 years to life in state prison. The sentence imposed April 24 will run consecutive to his multiple life sentences.