Los Angeles Times

Man convicted in drive-by shooting death

Defendant is found guilty of murder in killing of 8-year-old boy in Pomona.

- By Alene Tchekmedyi­an alene.tchekmedyi­an@latimes.com

A 36-year-old man was convicted Wednesday in the drive-by shooting death of an 8-year-old boy in Pomona last year, authoritie­s said.

A jury found Sengchan Houl guilty of one count of first-degree murder, two counts each of shooting at an occupied dwelling and negligent discharge of a firearm, and one count of shooting from a motor vehicle, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said. Jurors deliberate­d less than two hours before returning the verdict.

Houl is scheduled to be sentenced next month, when he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibilit­y of parole.

In February 2017, Houl was in a car when he opened fire on a home in the 1100 block of West 11th Street. Jonah Hwang, 8, was fatally struck in the head.

Prosecutor­s said Houl had shot at the same home once before the boy’s death and twice after.

Jonah was with his parents and brother at a family friend’s home for dinner when the shooting occurred.

Jonah had been adopted about three years before from an orphanage in Taiwan, his parents, Jonny and Karen Hwang, said at the time.

“He had an infectious smile and loved everyone and everything: sports, wrestling with his dad, running, laughing, superheroe­s,” his parents said in a statement. “Jonah was a light and joy in our household and we cannot imagine our family without him.”

 ?? Sandi Hwang Adam ?? JONAH HWANG was at a family friend’s home when he was fatally shot.
Sandi Hwang Adam JONAH HWANG was at a family friend’s home when he was fatally shot.

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