East Los Angeles, CA — A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 150 years to life in prison for the execution-style killings of three individuals who lived in his East Los Angeles neighborhood. On Friday, August 22, Anthony Velasquez was handed the sentence after being convicted of three counts of first-degree murder earlier in the week.
The victims were:
Jesse Avalos, 34
Eduardo Robles, 38
Amanda Nicole Lopez, 27
“No heart and no conscience”
Prosecutors say Velasquez committed the murders between 2014 and 2018, driven by a belief that each of the victims had disrespected him. The killings were premeditated and carried out with the same firearm in at least two of the murders, according to police evidence.
During the emotional sentencing, Rozelle Lopez, mother of Amanda Lopez, addressed Velasquez directly:
“You, Anthony, are and always will be nothing more than a certified homicidal serial killer who has no heart and no conscience,” she said, as reported by ABC7.
Velasquez’s attorney, Leslie Ann Boyce, told PEOPLE that her client has maintained his innocence throughout the trial and confirmed that an appeal has been filed.
Timeline of the Murders
1. Jesse Avalos – February 10, 2014
Avalos was last seen helping someone jumpstart their car near Telegraph Road and Arizona Avenue around 11 p.m. Just hours later, he was found shot multiple times in the driver’s seat of his blue SUV. He died at the scene.
2. Eduardo Robles – July 6, 2015
Robles was shot several times in the upper torso after an argument in a driveway on the 4300 block of Eagle Street. The altercation reportedly escalated quickly, and Robles was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
3. Amanda Nicole Lopez – April 22, 2018
Lopez was fatally shot while sleeping in a tent near a homeless encampment in the early morning hours. She was struck in the upper body and died at the scene.
Long Path to Justice
For years, the cases went unsolved. In August 2021, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced an $80,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
“We know there were witnesses at every murder,” said Captain Joe Mendoza of the department’s Homicide Bureau at the time.
Forensic evidence later confirmed that the same firearm was used in the murders of Avalos and Robles, helping link the crimes to Velasquez.
