Death Penalty Urged in Slayings of 2 Students
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COMPTON — A prosecutor urged jurors Monday to impose the death penalty on two men convicted of killing two Long Beach City College students.
Jurors announced Friday that they had found Reuben Rangel, 23, and Joseph Mora, 23, guilty on two first-degree murder counts and two counts of attempted robbery.
The defendants allegedly shot and killed Anthony Urrutia and Andy Encinas, both criminal justice students, Aug. 24, 1997.
The students had dropped off an acquaintance at a Compton residence about 3:20 a.m. and were sitting in their car when they were confronted by Rangel and Mora.
The two men asked Urrutia and Encinas to hand over their wallets but started shooting before the students could comply, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary Ann Escalante.
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