Long Beach, California — A state appeals court has upheld the conviction of Tyquan Markeith Benson, one of two men found guilty of the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander during a gang-related altercation nearly five years ago. The ruling is a significant development in a case that has drawn attention due to the senselessness of the violence, which claimed the life of 36-year-old Alejandra Martinez.
Benson, 30, was convicted in connection with the December 4, 2020, incident that unfolded at a taco truck. A panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Benson’s argument that jurors should not have been privy to incriminating statements made by his co-defendant, Jacquise Wright, in an undercover operation conducted within the jail.
At trial, evidence revealed Benson’s role in an exchange of gunfire that left Martinez dead while she was stopping for food after work. Prosecutors argued that both he and Wright created a dangerous situation as they clashed with gang rivals, effectively cornering a group of bystanders trapped in the taco truck parking lot.
Jurors found Benson guilty of first-degree murder, along with several other charges, including attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. In 2023, he received a sentence of 50 years to life in prison, plus an additional 17 years and eight months due to his previous conviction for burglary.
Wright, now 35, was also convicted on similar charges and is currently serving a sentence of 28 years to life, having been sentenced in July 2024. Unlike Benson, the court found him to possess “lesser culpability,” according to remarks from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James D. Otto during sentencing.
During the trials, Deputy District Attorney Robert Song painted a grim picture for the jury, detailing how Martinez, a mother of three, was caught in the crossfire of a violent gang dispute. Song indicated it may never be clear which of the two men fired the fatal shot, but he assured the jury that either could be justly held accountable for her death.
Defense attorneys for Wright contended that their client was not the shooter and was instead attempting to defuse tensions during the altercation. They emphasized that Wright was merely a bystander caught up in the turmoil caused by Benson, whom they characterized as impulsive and reckless.
Additionally, the case involved a third, unidentified shooter who fired from behind the taco truck. This person was believed to have returned fire at Benson but ultimately had no role in Martinez’s death, complicating the narrative surrounding the incident.
The Long Beach Police Department stated following the shooting that the dispute appeared to be gang-related and confirmed that Martinez was not the intended target. A young girl who was also shot during the incident survived her injuries, highlighting the alarming impact of gang violence on innocent lives.
Both men have remained incarcerated since their arrest approximately two and a half months after the shooting, as their cases continue to unfold. The appeals court ruling further solidifies the legal outcomes emerging from this tragic event, serving as a reminder of the dangers associated with gang-related activities.