SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–Three gang members convicted in a series of deadly shootings in National City were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of three rival gang members, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced.
Defendants Ethan Apan, 33, Kristian Apan, 32, and Ismael Betancourt, 25, were convicted in May following an 11-week jury trial. Jurors found the men guilty of multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle and assault likely to cause great bodily injury, along with several additional felony counts.
Under the sentences imposed by the court, Ethan Apan received two terms of life without the possibility of parole plus 132 years to life in state prison. Kristian Apan was sentenced to one term of life without parole plus 107 years to life. Betancourt received two terms of life without parole plus 139 years to life.
“Today’s sentencing brings to a close the gang warfare that plagued a small South Bay city with murders, shootings and retaliation,” Stephan said in a statement. “I am grateful to our prosecution team, Robert Eacret and Abrey Zora, who expertly navigated the complicated underworld of gang activity to bring justice for these senseless killings.”
Prosecutors said the defendants carried out a string of shootings in National City during 2019 and 2020 that left Joaquin Ruiz, Marco Magana and Juan Galvan dead. Three others–Julio Martull, James Mullens and Adan Duke–were seriously wounded.
Authorities said the violence began after Ruiz was killed in retaliation for the murder of a gang member the week before. The attack sparked a cycle of retaliatory violence in which the defendants repeatedly drove into rival gang territory to carry out shootings, sometimes mistakenly targeting innocent bystanders.
Following a joint investigation involving four San Diego Police Department homicide teams, the National City Police Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Gangs Unit, Ethan Apan, Kristian Apan, Betancourt and six additional gang members were arrested in connection with the shootings.
Several co-defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial and were sentenced for their roles in the violence. Jorge Sanchez, 23, was sentenced to 105 years to life in prison. John Anthony Orozco, 32, received 38 years in prison. Raymond Sandoval, 36, was sentenced to 20 years, and Daisy Diaz, 28, received a 12-year prison sentence.
The District Attorney’s Gangs Division prosecutes complex homicide cases and other serious crimes involving violent gang members who terrorize neighborhoods. The unit uses a “vertical prosecution” approach, in which one prosecutor handles a case from beginning to end.
Three gang members sentenced to life in prison for South Bay murders
