JURY FINDS TWENTYNINE PALMS MAN GUILTY IN MURDER OF LASAHWN LIGHTFOOT

A man accused of shooting a Twentynine Palms man he believed informed on him was found guilty yesterday. On October 18, 2013, LaShawn Lightfoot, 42, went to visit an acquaintance in an apartment complex in the 5800 block of Bagley Avenue. When he arrived, he was ambushed by Torey Simpson, 31, also of Twentynine Palms, who shot him multiple times with a 9-mm handgun. Lightfoot was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs where he died the next day. After a long investigation, detectives issued a warrant for Simpson’s arrest on December 31, and Simpson turned himself in to Los Angeles police April 14. Simpson’s jury trial began in Joshua Tree Superior Court October 27; jurors began deliberations Friday afternoon and they returned Monday morning with a guilty verdict of first degree murder with special allegations of using a firearm; dissuading a witness, and criminal threats. A sentencing date will be set today (Tuesday, Nov 18). Torey Simpson faces 50 years to life in state prison for the murder charge and up to eight years for the other charges.