A 25-year-old man was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder this week in connection with a 2019 gang-related triple homicide in Stockton.
After more than five years, Joaquin Cruz was found guilty of killing David and Tiffany Connary, who were siblings, and Remilio Castillo.
On Tuesday, a San Joaquin County jury also found true all firearm and gang enhancements, as well as special circumstance allegations, including murder committed by a criminal street gang member, murder committed by firing from a vehicle with intent to kill and multiple murder special circumstances.
Cruz faces life without the possibility of parole sentence.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2026.
From 2017 to 2019, the Norteno gangs, Varrio Latino Locos (VLL) and the Garden Block Gangsters, had been in a “violent” feud with East Oak, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office said.
The rivalry had resulted in about 16 shootings within the city.
In early 2019, Castillo, who prosecutors said was an East Oak member, posted two comments on Instagram responding to posts by Cruz. Cruz was a high-ranking and active VLL member at the time, the DA officials said.
The comments were viewed as disrespectful by Cruz and other VLL affiliates.
On March 22, 2019, Cruz located Castillo while he was sitting in a parked car with the siblings. The car was parked just west of F Street in the 2300 block of Finland Avenue.
Prosecutors said Cruz and an accomplice drove up to the car and opened fire.
During the shooting, 19-year-old David Connary was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. His 18-year-old sister Tiffany Connary was struck 15 times, including seven fatal wounds to the head. Castillo, 18, was killed by gunshots to the neck and torso.
Police investigators had determined that the siblings were not involved in gangs, DA officials said.
Tiffany was a Franklin High School student at the time of her death and wanted to be an engineer, her family said. She was a member of SkillsUSA, a student organization focused on career and technical education.
“These young lives were stolen in a senseless act of gang violence that devastated two families and shook our community,” San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said in a statement. “This verdict delivers justice for David, Tiffany and Remilio, and it reaffirms our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. I commend the exceptional work of our prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates and crime analysts who dedicated years to ensuring the truth was brought to light.”
Cruz, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody in southern Oregon’s Klamath County.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton man found guilty of murdering three teens in 2019
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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