While Eric Carrillo may have forgiven one of the men who planned the 2007 shooting that left him wheelchair bound, the Stanislaus County Superior Court still doled out justice on Tuesday.

Marco Antonio Moreno-Robles, 26, of Modesto, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in state prison for attempted murder and accessory after the fact for his part in the April 2007 shooting of Carrillo.

At the time of Moreno-Robles’ plea, Carrillo was pushed in his wheelchair to the front of the counsel table in order to give a victim impact statement. Carrillo looked Moreno-Robles in the eye before saying he forgave him. Carrillo then admonished Moreno-Robles to make better choices in his life.

On April 30, 2007, Moreno-Robles was present when a plan was discussed among Sureno gang members to kill a rival Norteno gang member as retaliation for acts of violence perpetrated by Nortenos against Surenos. Moreno-Robles agreed to drive the shooter and two other gang members from Modesto to Turlock to search for a target, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

Carrillo was standing on the sidewalk near Wakefield Elementary School at 9:53 p.m. on April 30, 2007, talking on a cell phone when Moreno-Robles’ car pulled up alongside him. Moreno-Robles stopped the car near Carrillo, which allowed passenger Luis Tafolla to exit the car. Tafolla proceeded to question Carrillo about his gang affiliation. Carillo told Tafolla that he was not in a gang. Tafolla shouted a gang challenge to Carrillo and then shot him in the face.  The bullet pierced Carillo’s spine causing paralysis.

Carrillo may have been targeted because he was wearing a red Atlanta Falcons jersey, and red is a color associated with the Nortenos.

 “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Turlock Police Department Det. Douglas Ravaglioli days after the shooting.

No date has been set for the trial of Tafolla, who faces 50 years to life in prison for allegedly shooting Carrillo.

To contact Kristina Hacker, e-mail khacker@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2004.