A California man who held employees and customers hostage during a 2018 shootout at a Trader Joe’s store in Los Angeles was sentenced Wednesday to more than 200 years to life in prison for a crime spree that ended with the death of a store manager.
Gene Evin Atkins, 36, was convicted of 41 counts related to the hostage incident in the Silver Lake neighborhood, including second-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Melyda “Mely” Corado.
The incident began when Atkins allegedly shot his 76-year-old grandmother and a 17-year-old girl at his grandmother’s home in South Los Angeles before fleeing in her car. Police pursued him until he crashed near the Trader Joe’s store.
Atkins exchanged gunfire with officers before running inside the busy supermarket, where dozens of employees and customers were held hostage. He surrendered about three hours later.
A jury initially convicted Atkins of multiple charges, including false imprisonment, attempted murder and assault with a firearm on a police officer. It acquitted him of first-degree murder but could not reach a unanimous verdict on the second-degree murder charge related to Corado’s death.
At a retrial, a second jury found Atkins guilty of second-degree murder on Aug. 18 and determined that he personally used and fired a gun during the crime.
Corado was killed by a bullet fired by a Los Angeles police officer, authorities confirmed in 2018. Prosecutors argued that Atkins was responsible for her death because his actions created the dangerous situation that led to the fatal shooting.
After the retrial verdict, Corado’s father, Albert Corado, said the outcome would not bring his daughter back. He also described the emotional toll of watching video showing her final moments.
Atkins’ defense attorney argued that his client should not be held responsible for Corado’s death, while acknowledging that his actions had caused chaos and terror. Prosecutors said the shooting, hostage situation and threat to officers were consequences of the defendant’s actions.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said after the murder conviction that Atkins’ actions had led to the tragic death of Corado, along with putting numerous people in danger.