A suspected gang member was convicted of shooting an eighth-grader in the back after the two engaged in a staring contest.

Ramon Diaz, 19, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced in December. Jurors needed less than an hour Thursday to convict him of charges that include murder and street terrorism.

Diaz was just shy of 17 when he shot 13-year-old Rodrigo Valle in September 2008, prosecutors said. He was charged as an adult.

Valle was waiting near Santa Ana High School to walk his older sister home, prosecutors said. Authorities believe Rodrigo was a member of a rival gang, and got into a staring contest with Diaz.

Prosecutors say Diaz crossed the street and confronted the boy with a question: “Where are you from?” Rodrigo answered with the name of his gang and offered to fight, Deputy Distict Attorney Troy Pino said.

Diaz instead pulled out a gun, and Rodrigo ran. Witnesses said Diaz shot Rodrigo in the back as he fled, Pino said.

Diaz’s attorney, Stuart Grant, argued that Diaz was guilty of voluntary manslaughter, not murder, and shot the boy in the heat of the moment, Pino said. But a jury on Thursday found Diaz guilty of murder, use of a firearm and street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for committing the killing for the benefit of a gang.

An accomplice, Oscar Hernandez, 24, pleaded guilty last week to voluntary manslaughter and gang activity in a plea deal that got him out of a murder charge. Prosecutors said Hernandez acted as a lookout and provided backup during the shooting.

Hernandez is expected to be sentenced to 16 years in prison, Pino said.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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