Nathaniel Lujano, 23, of Tulare, a known gang member, was sentenced to life without parole for two 2022 murders, committed to benefit a criminal street gang. (Tulare County DA)
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Nathaniel Lujano, 23, of Tulare, was sentenced to life without parole for two murders the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release on Tuesday.
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The Nov. 8 sentencing in Tulare County Superior Court of Lujano, who is a validated gang member, marked the end of a case involving two brutal killings in 2022.
The DA’s Office said that first murder occurred in the early hours of Aug. 19, 2022, when Lujano confronted a young man at a Tulare gas station and questioned his gang affiliation. Dissatisfied with the man’s answer, Lujano shot him four times.
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While the victim lay on the ground, Lujano reportedly fired two more shots before fleeing. Surveillance footage helped police identify him as the shooter.
Just weeks later, on Sept. 3, 2022, Lujano struck again, this time at a party at a Tulare apartment complex.
Witnesses told police Lujano was targeting former gang members and opened fire, killing a woman at the gathering.
He was apprehended by Tulare Police officers two days later in Fresno, court documents showed.
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On Oct. 11, Lujano pleaded no contest to two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.
His charges included gang affiliation, intentional firearm discharge causing death, and committing multiple murders.
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