The last remaining perpetrator of a robbery-murder on Halloween 2011 in Santa Clarita was sentenced Friday.
Diamonte “Tay Tay” McGhee, 20, of Canyon Country, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, in addition to approximately seven life terms, officials said.
He was convicted of 10 charges, including first degree murder, second degree robbery, four counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon.
There were also special allegations and circumstances, meaning the jury decided McGhee fired the weapon and it was used in commission of a crime.
There were three teens involved in the shooting that wounded Ricardo Sandoval and killed Alejandro Sanchez Torres, a homeless man who intervened when the three teens were beating Sandoval.
Sworn testimony in court revealed McGhee, Branden Higgs and Eric Edwards were going to meet up with Sandoval for the sale of a used game system, which turned into an assault; then a shooting; and then, when Sanchez Torres saw the struggle and tried to intervene, a murder.
Sanchez-Torres, who was killed during the robbery, had only met Sandoval moments prior to his death, when Sandoval gave the man 35 cents, after Sanchez-Torres asked if he had any money.
Photo: KHTS
Sanchez-Torres was with his then-7-year-old son when he saw Sandoval getting beat up and tried to intervene in the wash behind Art’s Liquor in Canyon Country, according to testimony in court.
McGhee and Edwards were both found guilty of murder and attempted murder, with special allegations that a firearm was used in the commission of the crime, and that their assaults were done during the commission of a robbery.
The jury found Branden Higgs not guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. On the other 10 counts against Higgs, the judge declared a mistrial.
Judge David Gelfound declared the mistrial after finding the jury’s vote was 7-5, on most of the charges, in favor of not guilty for Higgs.
Higgs took a plea deal in April instead of seeking a retrial. He pleaded guilty to five charges — one count of voluntary manslaughter and four counts of attempted murder.
Higgs’ co-defendant, Eric Edwards, of Canyon Country, 20, was sentenced to 30 to life, plus four consecutive life terms last week, said Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutor Brad Lieberman portrayed McGhee as the leader of the group and the one who pulled the trigger, and the jury agreed.
All three were 17 at the time the crime was committed, but charged as adults due to the circumstances.
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26 Comments
Jennifer Fullerton a block away
Yikes Erin!
YAY keep them in prison!!
death penalty, and actually carrying out the execution, is more cost effective
George, I’m not against the death penalty, but when it takes 10-20 years and paying state lawyers millions to defend him and try to over turn the sentence, I think rotting in prison without hope of ever getting out is really more severe than the death penalty. He may live to think about his crime for 60 yrs. and he may get killed in prison and save the taxpayers money,
I agree with George Saldivar, jr. Start carrying out the death penalty and maybe some of the crime would go away!
Praying for his young son. This was so devastating to have happen right there in front of him. ❤️
Hope against hope that his young son will take this tragedy and do something amazing with his life in memory of his father.
You old people are funny, definition of a beach
Quickly impose a slow and painful death sentence.
Ashamed that there was never a positive influence in his life. Now he has no life as he is left to rot in his cell untill his last diying breath. However, the circumstances here are just horrible. We have a death by aggression by a likely strung out on drugs, and causing him to do things that he would likely not do sober. That said he is still responseablefor manslaughter leading to his conviction. Next to the murder , I suppose that knowing that you are 20 years old and have been handed a life without the possibility of parole with a side of 7 consecutive life sentences. I bet he is lifeless and numb. That is the worst part a waste of what could’ve been a good life with guidance.
No he wasn’t “strung out” on drugs… Lol you people are quick to throw that at someone. Typical. You must live in Valencia lol Sorry but this city isn’t awesometown and never will be.
Interesting comments.
Donovan, how do you know that there wasn’t a positive influence in his life?
Thanks Jakes Way.
This wasn’t about a street! Murder happens. It doesn’t have a zip code or street.
thank you.
Wow i remember when that happened, its crazy to think how easy somebody can kill you for any small reason.
I do not feel sorry for him at all…he killed a man in front of a child…throw away the key.
Dammm tay tay
Dang it was just like yesterday we had seen each other I don’t understand he was cool with everyone he was good people I don’t understand why he did what he did but only God can judge him know
Goddamn..
The bro got 7 life sentences…
Keep yahh head up bro
Keep ya head up and don’t pick up the soap..Hope you ROT in jail.
Stay strong Tay Tay
Can’t believe the comments. The guy got what he deserved. No justification for murder
Stay strong my ass….well yeah I guess he will need to in JAIL.