Gang member convicted in teen's murder gets life in prison | Crime

Bartow, Florida -- A Polk County judge has sentenced Alejandro Baez-Garcia to life in prison.

A jury found Baez-Garcia guilty last month of murdering Juan Castillo, 19, during a gang-related drive-by shooting in January 2011.

Baez-Garcia was also accused of critically injuring Castillo's 11-year-old brother, Jake.

At the time, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the pair had been targeted because Juan Castillo was wearing rival gang colors.

Jake was paralyzed, but survived.

Deputies who arrested Baez-Garcia said he later confessed to the shooting, telling them the shooting happened as a van drove past the victims' house.

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