Man, 19, Found Guilty in Slaying at ‘Flyer’ Party : Courts: Jose Aguilar had claimed self-defense in the racially tinged shooting of Damon Washington.

POMONA —  A young West Covina man was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder in a racially tinged shooting at a party.

Jose Aguilar, 19, who pleaded self-defense in the November death of Damon Washington, was expressionless as the verdict was read in Pomona Superior Court. Aguilar’s father, Fred, who was in court with a dozen family members, gasped, then wept and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.

The verdict also hit the Washington family hard.

The victim’s father, Dennis, a motorcycle officer with more than 20 years of service with the Los Angeles Police Department, held back tears and anger as he stood outside the courtroom with his wife after the verdict.

“It was calculated murder, Murder 1,” he said quietly. “It hurts.”

The jury reached the verdict after deliberating two days and after finding Aguilar not guilty of first-degree murder. The six men and six women quickly left the courthouse and would not comment on their decision.

Washington, on leave of absence from the LAPD to attend the eight-day trial, said he felt no sympathy for Aguilar or his family.

“How can we feel that?” he said. “ My son is gone. We’re going through a daily adjustment. We take turns trying to brace each other up. It will never go away.”

Aguilar could receive 20 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced Sept. 9.

The shooting occurred Nov. 30 at a so-called flyer party in Diamond Bar. Such events, advertised by flyers, typically attract large crowds of youths, many of whom do not know each other.

The party in the 500 block of Bregante Drive was no exception. It brought together nearly 200 young people who paid $2 each for admission to the no-alcohol, no-drugs affair.

The party also brought together two strangers in a fatal encounter: Washington, 18, a Fullerton College fullback who had been a popular high school athlete, and Aguilar, a quiet Christian who spent time coaching youngsters in basketball.

Both young men came from supportive families, had no criminal records, enjoyed multiracial and multiethnic friendships and avoided gang membership.

After Aguilar crashed the party and was stopped by Washington, who was helping the host, the two exchanged words in what was to be the first part of their deadly confrontation.

“I hate Mexicans,” Washington reportedly told Aguilar.

Aguilar left, returned with a gun and shot Washington, a black youth. Witnesses testified that Aguilar said, “So, you don’t like Mexicans, huh?”

Defense attorney Mike Adelson portrayed his client’s actions at the party as atypical. The attorney blamed Washington’s death on the football player’s own actions. Adelson said Washington’s aggressive behavior prompted Aguilar to arm himself out of fear before he returned to the party to retrieve a dropped wallet.

Aguilar testified that he shot Washington because Washington moved his hand rapidly to his waist and Aguilar thought he had a gun.

Deputies found no gun on or near Washington’s body. Deputy Dist. Atty. Pamela Booth-Gulley told jurors that Aguilar’s behavior changed dramatically four months before the party when he moved out of his father’s house and in with his mother. Aguilar stopped attending 6 a.m. church services, the prosecutor said. The youth also admitted to authorities that he had been drinking the night of the party.