3 young men convicted of 2015 killing in Tacoma

TACOMA – Three young men have been convicted of fatally shooting an 18-year-old in 2015.

The News Tribune reported Thursday that jurors found one of the men guilty this week for the killing of Elijah Crawford, while the other two pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors say the men’s intended target was Crawford’s friend, who had been feuding with 25-year-old Alberto Colt-Sarmiento.

The shooting happened while those involved were gathered for a planned fistfight between the two.

The gunman, 19-year-old Juan Javier Zuniga-Gonzalez, pleaded guilty last year to first-degree murder, second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree attempted murder.

Colt-Sarmiento was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and unlawful gun possession.

Trino Valentino Martinez, who gave Zuniga-Gonzalez the gun, was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison.