‘You are going to pay a price.’ Clovis nightclub shooter sentenced for murdering two men
Convicted killer Eddie Cordero was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for gunning down two men after a verbal dispute in a Clovis nightclub last year.
Judge Arlan Harrell did not mince words when sentencing Cordero, 26, for the deaths of Merehildo Luna, 21, of Fresno, and Andres Sanchez 27, of Sanger. A third man was also shot but survived.
“Your conduct was criminal and for that conduct you are going to pay a price,” Harrell said, as he looked directly at Cordero.
Clovis police testified during the trial that the shooting was triggered by a verbal disturbance between Cordero and Luna while they were both inside the Palace NightClub in Old Town Clovis.
Harrell said the comment was something to the effect of, “where do you think you are, Hollywood?”
“And apparently that was enough to set Mr. Cordero off,” the judge said.
An angry Cordero left the club, driven home by a friend who urged him to stay there and cool off. But he didn’t listen. Cordero went back to club about an hour and a half later, armed with a handgun. Video surveillance from the club shows him entering the bar, pulling out the handgun and firing.
Harrell said Cordero’s violent reaction made no sense to him.
“Two people lost their lives and a third individual who had nothing to do with the encounter was injured pretty badly,” the judge said. “It makes no sense to me. There has been no explanation because there is no explanation for such criminal conduct.”
Cordero chose not to make a statement, but a family member of one of the victims did.
Savannah Gonzalez, Luna’s sister-in-law, said the family has been devastated by the death of Luna.
“Words can not express the pain our family and friends have endured since you’ve taken him from us,” she said. “Your decision to take the life of two human beings with no regard for the effect it may have on others is unimaginable. In the blink of a eye you destroyed multiple families. And for what? For something my brother in law said to you?”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Elana Smith was pleased with the outcome and the swiftness it took to bring justice to the victim’s families.
“We agree with the Honorable Judge Arlan Harrell’s comments that this was a senseless murder and now the defendant must face the consequences of his actions,” Smith said.
Cordero was defended by lawyer Jonathan Richter.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 11:33 AM.
