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Re-sentencing ordered for two convicted in deadly Lancaster street brawl

by City News Service • July 23, 2021

[Inset: L to R, Terrell Henderson Joshua Lockett, victim Brandon Houston] [Main image: The street brawl and murder happened on Nov. 29, 2012, near Coach’s Sports Bar & Grill on the 43000 Block of Gadsden Avenue in Lancaster.]
LANCASTER – A state appeals court panel Friday ordered re-sentencing for two of the four men convicted in connection with the shooting death of a man during a street brawl in Lancaster nearly a decade ago.

The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal ordered a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to grant the petitions from Joshua R. Lockett and Terrell D. Henderson for re-sentencing as a result of a recent change in state law that affects defendants convicted in some murder cases.

The appellate court panel concluded that “reversal is warranted on the ground of insufficiency of the evidence.”

Lockett and Henderson were convicted of second-degree murder along with Randy Sullivan, who is not a party to the appeal. All three men were sentenced to potential life prison terms in 2014. A fourth man, Cedric Burton Jr., was subsequently arrested and convicted of first-degree murder for the Nov. 29, 2012, slaying of Brandy “Brandon” Houston. Jurors in Burton’s case also found true the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, along with gun and gang allegations.

The brawl was spurred by an argument between the 21-year-old victim and his live-in girlfriend, who had called her sister for a ride, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Her sister sent Henderson, Sullivan and Lockett to pick her up, and they got into an argument with Houston and his family members, authorities said. The three men left, but promised to return, sheriff’s officials said.

The men later returned with Burton, and a melee erupted in which Burton shot the victim 11 times, authorities said.

“Based on our review of the record, substantial evidence does not support the trial court’s conclusions on the required elements for aiding and abetting a second-degree murder,” the appellate court panel found in its 26-page ruling. “There is simply no rational inference that the petitioners engaged in the brawl as a ruse to allow Burton the chance to sneak in for the kill.”

Previous related stories:

Man’s conviction upheld for Lancaster killing

Man sentenced for deadly street brawl in Lancaster

Man convicted in deadly street brawl  in Lancaster

Man pleads not guilty in 2012 Lancaster killing

Alleged shooter charged in 2012 Lancaster street brawl murder

Man gets 17 to life for Lancaster daylight shooting death

Man gets 35 to life for Lancaster street brawl murder

Man gets 15 to life for daylight murder

Trio found guilty in Lancaster street brawl murder

Trial opens for 3 charged in daylight murder

Trio pleads not guilty in daylight shooting death

Gunman still at large in daylight shooting death, witnesses say

3 arrested for murder in daylight shooting death

Man shot to death in Lancaster

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Home, Lancaster

2 comments for "Re-sentencing ordered for two convicted in deadly Lancaster street brawl"

  1. Re-sentencing says

    July 23, 2021 at 5:25 pm

    Without the city and photos listed, I would have thought that Joshua Lockett, Randy Sullivan, and Brandon Houston were surfers from Newporsche Beach.

    • Branden says

      July 25, 2021 at 10:34 pm

      That comment is so funny. You are so right on the money

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