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# SM homicide victim had long rap sheet
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/sm-homicide-victim-had-long-rap-sheet/
- Published: 2004-03-10T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:58:27.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Crime, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*SM police investigating murder; three arrested*

The first homicide victim of the year in Santa Monica was a four-time felon who was released from prison just three months before he was fatally shot.

Gabriel Becerrada, 38, had been in and out of jail for drugs, guns, burglary and robbery since 1986, according to the Department of Corrections. He was shot and killed early Sunday morning at the doorstep of an Ocean Park apartment rented by his girlfriend, Sandra Alfaro, 34, and her two children, both minors.

The apartment is on the third floor of a low-income housing project at Ashland Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard in southern Santa Monica. Police arrested Alfaro, her 17-year-old son and his friend, Luke Yeron, 19, in connection with the murder. The 17-year-old isn’t being named because he’s a minor. It’s unclear who allegedly pulled the trigger, and the investigation is ongoing.

Neighbors on Tuesday said they were shaken by the shooting. They said it emphasizes the need for better security in the 45-unit complex, where other crimes have occurred. A meeting will be hosted Thursday night by Community Corp. of Santa Monica, the nonprofit organization that owns the property at 815 Ashland Ave., as well as numerous affordable housing projects throughout the city.

3D7,“It’s not a pretty story. It’s a scary story, when it happens under your window. It’s so frightening,” said a four-year neighbor, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution. “I’m afraid, to tell you the truth. It’s the first time in my life that I heard shooting — not in the movies, but in real life. It’s scary.”

> “I’m afraid, to tell you the truth. It’s the first time in my life that I heard shooting — not in the movies, but in real life. It’s scary.” — — ANONYMOUS NEIGHBOR

Becerrada had spent nearly 11 years behind bars before he was killed Sunday, authorities said. In 1986, Becerrada, then 20 years old, was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted robbery. He served two years and was released on parole. Then, in 1992, Becerrada served seven months for second-degree burglary. Three months after being released, he was arrested for possessing a firearm and spent a year in prison. Most recently, Becerrada served seven years for drug possession. He was released Dec. 2.

Victor Prado, 22, who lives in the building with his parents and brothers, said he was startled when he heard five gunshots ring out after 1 a.m. Sunday.

336,“I was on the phone, right here in my room, and I heard gunshots,” said Prado, who knows Alfaro’s children, both students at Santa Monica High School. “I got in the elevator and went all the way upstairs, and I saw this body lying in front of the door... I thought it was (the minor arrested)... I didn’t touch him or anything, I just came down here and told my little brother to call the ambulance... It was pretty scary, just seeing him right there.”

> “I was on the phone, right here in my room, and I heard gunshots.” — — VICTOR PRADO Neighbor

The residents said security at the building needs to be heightened. Blanca Martinez, who’s lived in the housing project with her husband and three children for six years, said car thieves have been seen frequently in the building’s large underground parking lot. Prado said his father also has seen the thieves and added he thinks video cameras should be installed.

Those issues are expected to be discussed at this week’s meeting between residents and Community Corp., which has been criticized in the past for renting to tenants with criminal backgrounds. Community Corp. officials didn’t return calls seeking comment on Tuesday. However, they have defended their properties in the past by saying not all low-income housing is inhabited by criminals.

Eric Castellon, 19, a neighbor and student at Santa Monica College, said he never could have foreseen Sunday’s shooting, which took place frighteningly close to him.

“It was right above my room, where we sleep,” said Castellon, an eight-year resident with his brother and mother. “It was just strange, because nothing like this had ever happened before.”

Victor Prado

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/031004-01_01-7.jpg)

(Above) The apartment building at 815 Ashland Ave. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/031004-01_02-7.jpg)

(Above) The apartment building at 815 Ashland Ave. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 10, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)