Two men, wrongfully imprisoned for about two decades for a 2003 drive-by shooting in South Los Angeles, have been released from prison, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Feb. 28.
“Jofama Coleman and Abel Soto were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a murder they did not commit,” Mr. Gascón said during a news conference.
Mr. Coleman and Mr. Soto, ages 20 and 15, respectively, at the time, were convicted of the May 10, 2003, shooting that killed 16-year-old Jose “Chino” Robles.
At the time, prosecutors said the killing was in retaliation for a prior confrontation purportedly involving the decedent and Mr. Coleman’s teenage brother.
Mr. Soto received a sentence of 72 years to life in prison in 2007 for firing the fatal shots, while Mr. Coleman was sentenced to 25 years to life for driving the van used during the shooting.
According to Mr. Gascón, the convictions came “despite the fact that no one could identify the shooter at the time of the shooting.”
He said that in 2023, a witness who initially identified Mr. Coleman as the driver retracted his trial testimony, saying he never witnessed Mr. Coleman driving the van.
“From the beginning, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Soto maintained their innocence, declaring it through every stage of the litigation,” Mr. Gascón said. “This case is a tragedy of many proportions. Our duty is not only to correct the wrongs of the past but to ensure that fairness prevails and that we learn from our past mistakes.”
In January 2023, the pair’s attorney, Ellen Eggers, submitted a claim of innocence citing newly discovered evidence suggesting that Mr. Soto and Mr. Coleman were wrongfully identified. After the case was reviewed in federal court, Mr. Soto was found innocent in January, and Mr. Coleman on Tuesday.
“Jofama Coleman and Abel Soto are my heroes, never faltering in their quest for justice,” Ms. Eggers said during the press conference. “Jofama transformed his cell into a classroom to master the law itself.”
Speaking at the news conference, Mr. Coleman said he would pursue a career in law to help other wrongfully incarcerated individuals.
“My journey has been one of unimaginable hardship, but it is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the power of resilience and unwavering support of those who believed in justice,” he said. “Behind prison walls I faced challenges that tested my resolve, but with determination and the support of remarkable individuals and organizations, I emerged victorious.”
No additional information regarding how the murder case will now proceed was available.
