Two teenagers from Los Angeles have recently pleaded guilty to serving as hitmen for the dangerous Sinaloa Cartel, engaging in a “gangland assassination” that resulted in the death of one of their associates and the injury of two others. The two teens, identified as Andrew Nunez, also known as “Shooter,” and Johncarlo Quintero, known as “Dumper,” confessed in federal court that they were offered $50,000 each by the cartel to carry out the killing.
The gruesome incident took place in March 27, 2024, where the teenagers attempted to assassinate their target twice within a span of five hours. The first attempt occurred outside a Chili’s restaurant in Chula Vista, San Diego. Quintero managed to shoot the victim in the leg, but his gun jammed when he tried to deliver the fatal blow. Nunez then tried to run over the target with a vehicle, but was unsuccessful in completing the task.
Undeterred, the teenagers made a second attempt at the victim’s residence later that same day. This time, they were accompanied by another individual, Ricardo Sanchez, aged 28. Tragically, Sanchez was killed during a shootout, and one person inside the house sustained injuries. Miraculously, a child present in the home remained unharmed.
It was revealed that Nunez and Quintero were affiliated with the Mexican Mafia-linked Westside Wilmas gang. They confessed in their plea agreements that they accepted the hit job in order to elevate their status within the gang. Additionally, they acknowledged that their youth played a significant role in their recruitment for this violent task.
The teenagers were aware that they would not be tried as adults if apprehended, thanks to a California law passed in 2018. This legislation, known as Senate Bill 1391, made it exceedingly challenging to prosecute individuals aged 14 and 15 as adults in criminal court, regardless of the severity of their offenses. US Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the need for a more stringent response to the escalating levels of cartel and gang violence, rather than granting leniency to juvenile offenders.
Nunez and Quintero have been charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering, as they carried out the hits with the intention of advancing the Westside Wilmas Enterprise. The murder charge pertains to the death of their accomplice, Sanchez. Both teenagers are scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2026.
