San Diego, CA— The final defendant in a violent South Bay crime spree that occurred in April 2018 was sentenced this week to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Michael Pedraza, 34, was convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, and other charges in connection with a series of brutal crimes that left one man dead and a woman paralyzed.
Over several days, Pedraza and his co-defendants—Cesar Alvarado, 45; Britney Canal, 35; and Francisco Aranda, 35—committed a string of violent acts, including a fatal shooting, an abduction, and a stabbing. The spree began with the robbery of a woman, whom they later accused of “snitching” to the police. This accusation culminated in Pedraza shooting the woman at Sunset Cliffs, leaving her paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
The group’s most heinous act occurred on April 11, 2018, when they mistakenly identified 59-year-old Mario Serhan as an undercover police officer. Serhan was shot in the head by Alvarado at a Chula Vista intersection, resulting in his death.
Pedraza received an additional 65 years to life in prison for his role in the crimes. His co-defendants were also handed severe sentences: Alvarado received life without parole, Canal was sentenced to 30 years to life, and Aranda received five years for his involvement in the robbery and other offenses.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney David Grapilon, who described the crime spree as a “senseless series of violent acts.” The sentencing marks the conclusion of a tragic chapter that deeply affected the South Bay community.
