Man Convicted of Drive-By Murder Gets Long Sentence

A 20-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita man was sentenced Friday to 31 years to life in prison for a fatal drive-by shooting that authorities said was the first gang-related killing in Lake Forest.

The case against Froilan Salud Rivera also marked the first time Orange County prosecutors used a 1994 law that makes shooting from a car a qualifying circumstance for a first-degree murder charge.

A jury in April found Rivera guilty of first-degree murder for shooting Trabuco Hills High School senior Edward Flores outside a crowded party last year. Rivera also was convicted of using a firearm and committing a gang-related crime.

On Friday, the victim’s mother cried as she talked about her 17-year-old son and urged that the maximum sentence be imposed.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gary Paer said Rivera shot Flores twice after the victim shouted gang taunts at Rivera and a carful of friends who pulled up to the party. Rivera had driven away from Flores but made a U-turn and returned to fire at the victim from the car window, according to testimony.

Rivera contended he fired in self-defense, while Paer said the victim was unarmed and the defendant could have kept driving if he truly feared for his life.

Rivera’s attorney, Thomas Avdeef, sought a lesser sentence, saying his client lacked a criminal record and was carrying a loaded gun to protect himself, because rival gang members had previously shot at his house.

Rivera, who was arrested in Las Vegas a few days after the Aug. 28 shooting, denied being an active gang member at the time of the slaying.