A 31-year-old man was convicted of murder Thursday in the fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend and her brother and father at the family’s home in Hawaiian Gardens five years ago.

Joseph Mercado was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder as well as attempted murder and other charges, including child abuse, arson and burglary.

Jurors also found true special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, lying in wait and engaging in arson. Those allegations make Mercado eligible for the death penalty.

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It took jurors at least two days to reach a verdict. On Friday, the penalty phase in the trial will begin. Jurors must decide whether Mercado should be put to death or given life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During closing statements Monday, family members of the shooting victims stormed out of the Norwalk courtroom as details of the killings were described.

Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Villa told jurors that Mercado planned the attacks a month earlier when he purchased a high-powered rifle and ammunition. The rifle was an AK-47.

Villa said Mercado told his boss of his plans.


“He told them he was going to kill them all,” Villa told jurors.

He said Mercado drove to the family’s home in the 21900 block of South Devline Avenue during the early morning hours of May 6, 2010. At least 10 people were inside the house.

Mercado parked his car, smoked a cigarette, then carried out the crimes, Villa said. Mercado used meat to keep the family’s dogs quiet while he poured gasoline around the property, then set fire to the house, the prosecutor said.

Mercado then broke into the back of the house and went on a shooting rampage, Villa said. The victims were his ex-girlfriend, Serena Tarin, 23; her brother, Alfred Tarin, 19; and her father, Alfredo Tarin Sr., 54.


At least two other family members were wounded.

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