Gang Member, Girlfriend Face Life Sentences For Elk Grove Shooting

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A convicted murderer and his girlfriend face life sentences after they were found guilty of multiple charges related to a shooting in Elk Grove during their retrial Friday.

Raymond Vigel was convicted in January 2011 of the first-degree murder of Alison Freeseha by discharging a firearm from a vehicle and of the attempted murder of Stephen Benetti. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining charges against Vigel and all charges against co-defendant Tamara Bassett.

Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully announced Friday that in a retrial of the remaining charges against Vigel, the jury convicted him for the attempted murder of Justin Hughes and Michael Escarcega for the benefit of the Norteno street gang.

The jury also convicted Bassett of the first-degree murder of Alison Freeseha and the attempted murder of Stephen Benetti, Justin Hughes and Michael Escarcega, also with the gang enhancement.

Bassett was at a house party in Elk Grove in April 2009 when she got into a fight and was punched in the face. Enraged, she said she was going to bring back her Norteno boyfriend to shoot everyone, according to the district attorney's office.

A short time later, Bassett pulled up in front of the open garage with Vigel. Vigel shouted "Oak Park 10th Avenue" and fired at least 10 bullets into the garage of innocent victims.

Stephen Benetti was shot multiple times in the stomach. Justin Hughes was shot three times in the back, which damaged his spinal cord and caused permanent paralysis from the waist down. Michael Escarcega was shot in the leg. Alison Freeseha was shot four times in the back and was killed by a gunshot wound to her head.

Vigel and Bassett face life sentences without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is set for April 13.