Driver in Teen-Ager’s Slaying Convicted of Murder

A jury convicted a Rancho Penasquitos teen-ager Wednesday of second-degree murder in the drive-by slaying of a 17-year-old boy.

Lawrence Rowe, 18, remained impassive when he heard the San Diego Superior Court jury’s guilty verdict in the slaying of Raymond Jose on Nov. 18, 1989.

Rowe, the driver in the incident, could be sentenced to a maximum of 16 years to life in state prison, but could also be committed to the California Youth Authority until he reaches age 25. Rowe had been ordered to stand trial as an adult, although he was 17 at the time of the shooting.

The gunman, Michael Mizicko, 20, also of Rancho Penasquitos, was convicted of second-degree murder last year in a separate trial and is now serving a 20-years-to-life sentence.

Judge Bernard Revak set Rowe’s sentencing for Jan. 31.

The jury began deliberations on Dec. 19, but only spent three days in discussions because of holiday interruptions and extensive rereading of testimony.

The shooting followed a gang-related incident between two groups at a Mira Mesa taco shop. Mizicko fired his weapon at some teen-agers running toward the car, and Jose was fatally wounded by a bullet to the heart.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gloria Michaels had urged the jury to return a guilty verdict of either first- or second-degree murder, noting that “you can’t do a drive-by shooting without the driver.”

Rowe’s attorney, Alex Landon, argued for acquittal, saying Rowe had no knowledge that Mizicko would fire a gun from the car he was driving. He said Rowe had no intent to harm anyone, and the victim was a friend of his.

“We’re obviously very disappointed,” Landon said afterwards.

A third teen-ager prosecuted in the incident, Devon Brumfield, 18, of Rancho Penasquitos, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Juvenile Court and was sentenced to 240 days in a juvenile camp.