2 convicted in mistaken-identity killing

Two reputed members of the Tony Rascals Gang were convicted of first-degree murder today for gunning down a 14-year-old eighth-grader they mistook for a rival gang member.
Kha Tran, 27, of Westminster and Christopher Diep, 22, of Houston face 50 years to life in state prison for their role in the June 8, 2002, shooting death of Edward Martin Fernandez Jr., a junior high school student who loved football, baseball and basketball and video games.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Contini argued that Tran and Diep were among a group of young men seeking retribution against the Asian Boys gang for the murder of a Tiny Rascals gang member in 2000.
The Asian Boys and Tiny Rascals have been enemies on the streets of Los Angeles and Orange County for many years, and their hatred boiled over at The Block of Orange in October 2000, when they rumbled in the parking lot of the popular mall, Contini said. Minot Ly, a Tiny Rascals leader, was stabbed to death, dying in the arms of his close friend Andrew Vu, 23, of Aliso Viejo, who also was stabbed.
Several members of the Asian Boys were convicted of Ly’s murder and sent to prison.
The animosity between the two gangs ignited again June 8, 2002, when Ken Tong, an affiliate of the Tiny Rascals, was watching the Los Angeles Lakers on television at the Ice Café, a cyber-café in Garden Grove, Conini argued.
At some point, Tong saw several members of the Asian Boys outside and phoned some friends. Meanwhile, Fernandez and several of his junior high school friends were playing video games inside the Ice Café before a planned sleep-over party.
Tran, Diep and Vu, all reputed members of the Tiny Rascals, jumped in two cars and raced over to confront the Asian Boys, Contini told the jury.
Before the trio could arrive, the Asian Boys apparently left. That’s when the Tiny Rascals made a huge mistake, Contini said. They thought the group of eighth-graders leaving the Ice Café in a taxi were the Asian Boys members.
The four eighth-graders, unaware of the bad blood between the two gangs, had only a few dollars between them to pay for the ride.
When the meter reached their limit, they told the driver to let them out – at one of the darkest spots on Adelle Street in Garden Grove. Fernandez, the last out of the cab, was paying the fare when he was shot five times. None of his friends were injured.
Vu was arrested a short time after the slaying. He was convicted of first-degree murder in December 2003 and is serving 25 years to life in prison. Tran and Diep were arrested months later. Tong, 21, of Stanton, pleaded guilty for his role and was sentenced to 23 years in prison