West Sacramento man Michael Reyes faces life in prison
(Woodland, CA) – August 3, 2015 – District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on August 3, 2015, a Yolo County jury found 25-year-old West Sacramento man Michael Anthony Reyes, Jr. guilty of Attempted Murder, Assault with a Semi-Automatic Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, and multiple Gang and Gun Enhancements. The jury also convicted Co-Defendants 22-year-old Lisa Humble and 21-year-old Liberty Landowski of Accessory After the Fact with a Gang Enhancement. Both Humble and Landowski are from West Sacramento. The jury voted not guilty on two other crimes charged in the Information.
On November 18, 2014 at around 8:00 a.m. the two victims were riding their bikes in a residential neighborhood in West Sacramento. Defendant Reyes confronted one of the victims, a drop out gang member who had previously been selling drugs within the Broderick area and had also previously been in a physical altercation with Reyes’ step-father. After the confrontation, Reyes waited until the victims had their backs turned and were riding away before he began shooting directly at one of the victims. Reyes shot a total of six times and hit one of the victims with three bullets. That victim was rushed to UC Davis Hospital in Sacramento where he suffered from three gun shot wounds, one of which went directly though the middle of his back, cut his aorta and lodged in his lung. He nearly died.
Landowski had been driving Reyes in her white convertible Mustang at the time of the shooting and fled the scene after the shooting. The jury heard evidence that Landowski switched cars and hid the Mustang, which has still never been located. Jail calls intercepted after Humble and Landowski were apprehended showed that they were still actively concealing the Mustang after their arrest while in custody. Witnesses testified at trial that Humble and Landowski sent Reyes audio recordings of police scanner information via e-mail after the shooting in addition to renting a motel room in Sacramento to conceal Reyes’ location after the shooting. When contacted by police at the motel room, Humble had the gun that Reyes used to shoot the victim.
Deputy District Attorney, Amanda Zambor, prosecuted the case. Zambor praised the dedicated efforts of the West Sacramento Police Department for the extensive investigation and countless hours worked by multiple officers and staff in the case. “This is a prime example of why gang crimes need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Zambor. “Such brazen crimes, committed in broad daylight do not just affect gang members but all of those around them in the community.”
Monday’s verdict came just 10 days after the parole hearing of convicted murderer and former Broderick Boy Harold Rigsby. On December 14, 1992, Rigsby, of West Sacramento, and several other “Broderick Boys” met at the home of a young female. According to Rigsby, they lured 23-year-old Pierre Fortier to the home because he had made disparaging remarks about the “Broderick Boys” street gang. After beating Fortier, Rigsby shot and killed him with a sawed off shotgun. Rigsby was sentenced to life in prison. At the July 23, 2015 hearing, parole commissioners found Rigsby unsuitable for parole stating that, although his behavior had improved over the past five years, he would still be a danger to society if released.
Reyes, Humble, and Landowski will be sentenced on August 31, 2015 by the Honorable Paul Richardson who presided over the trial. Reyes faces 68 years to life in state prison while Humble and Landowski face anywhere from probation to seven years in state prison.
Reyes, Humble and Landowski are lead away from the courthouse after the guilty verdicts were read.
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