A California man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of a beloved street food vendor who was flagged down under the pretense of making a sale.
Lorenzo Perez, 45, was shot and killed in Fresno on March 21, 2021, according to the Fresno Police Department.
Investigators said Demarcus Vega, now 25, stopped Perez as he worked his route and acted as though he wanted to buy something from him. After the two briefly spoke, Vega pulled out a gun and shot the vendor in the head.
Police said Vega then went through Perez’s pockets before fleeing the scene.
He was arrested within days of the killing, and in May 2026, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, according to KMPH, ABC 30 and the Fresno Bee.
Perez was a father of four whose youngest child was only 1 year old at the time of his death. A GoFundMe created to help with memorial expenses described him as a devoted father who was often joined by his daughter while he worked.
He was also a familiar and much-loved figure in the community, where customers remembered him for his kindness and friendly personality.
In the days after the murder, Perez’s son, Isai, told FOX 26 that his father “was friendly” and “a great man.”
“He didn’t deserve to go like this,” he said.
Five years after the killing, Vega was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Five years for justice? That is unacceptable.