Marine Convicted in Shootings of 2 Officers

SAN DIEGO —  A Marine Corps sergeant was convicted Tuesday of murdering one officer and attempting to murder another in a March shooting at Camp Pendleton, crimes for which he could receive the death penalty.

Sgt. Jessie A. Quintanilla, an eight-year veteran, was convicted by a military court of the premeditated murder of Lt. Col. Daniel Kidd, executive officer at the Marine Air Logistics Squadron 39, and the attempted murder of Lt. Col. Thomas A. Heffner, the squadron’s commanding officer.

Prosecutors alleged that the 29-year-old supply sergeant, a native of Guam, had come under the influence of a street-gang culture that convinced him that his career problems were the result of discrimination.

Quintanilla had been denied a favored assignment as a recruiter in the months before the killing. Also, Kidd, 40, had “counseled” him for being a straggler during a training run.

In the minutes after the March 5 shooting, Quintanilla told other Marines, “I did it for the brotherhood and the brown side. We have a hit list.” He added, “I’m from the streets, and these are my colors. I used to be Sgt. Quintanilla, but now I’m Q.”

Quintanilla’s defense attorney argued that Quintanilla is an alcoholic and was suffering from an alcohol-induced psychotic disorder that led him to believe officers were biased against him because of his ethnic background. He was also suffering financial and marital problems.

When arrested, Quintanilla had a blood alcohol level of 0.40%, four times the amount legally considered drunk, and had been drinking beer and tequila for several hours. Quintanilla, who grew up in Long Beach, did not testify.

Prosecutors asserted that Quintanilla was driven to shoot Kidd by a tenet of gang culture that requires “an extreme act of violence” in response to a slight or other disrespectful act.

The degree of Quintanilla’s gang involvement was an issue during the trial. While he has several tattoos associated with gang members, including a teardrop from one eye, there was no indication that he belonged to a gang.

Testimony indicated that Quintanilla shot Kidd point-blank and then chased him into an adjoining room and shot him again, as well as shooting Heffner. Heffner’s testimony contradicted a defense theory that Quintanilla accidentally fired his gun during a struggle.

“When another Marine sticks a .45 in the middle of your chest and cranks off a round,” the 43-year-old Heffner testified, “it’s not hard to remember.”

The jury consisted of seven officers and five enlisted personnel. The same panel will meet Monday to decide on punishment.

To invoke the death penalty, the jury must be unanimous. A lesser penalty needs only a two-thirds majority.