Man convicted in killing of Tucson teen

The 19-year-old stared blankly as the verdict was read, only briefly looking back at friends and family as the jury of eight men and four women left the courtroom.

Encinas was convicted in the slaying of 16-year-old Derreck Burruss, who was shot and killed just before midnight on Jan. 4, 2008 as he and friend Dominic Moore walked home from Park Place Mall.

Burruss was killed because he and Moore were walking through a neighborhood around East 29th Street and South Wilmot Avenue that is claimed by an East Side gang known as Brown Pride, Deputy Pima County Attorney Michael Kelly told jurors during the trial.

Encinas is a member of the gang, Kelly said.

Moore testified that he and Burruss were walking from the mall to meet up with a friend, Shay Henderson, who was going to escort them to his home where Henderson’s mother would give the boys a ride home to Moore’s apartment.

Burruss and Moore met up with Henderson near an alley just north of 29th and Wilmot just after a group of people — including Encinas and his cousin, 17-year-old Raymond Godoy — attempted to rob Henderson, Moore testified.

Moore said that Henderson decided to walk on the opposite side of Wilmot after the altercation, but that he and Burruss stayed on the west side of the street. He said he and Burruss had crossed 29th and were near a bus stop in front of a church when they heard someone yelling at them from behind.

The two boys turned around and were confronted by Encinas and Godoy, who asked where Burruss and Moore were from, Moore said.

Moore said he told Godoy he was from the East Side, but Godoy accused him of lying and that he should “square up” as if to prepare for a fight. At the same time, Moore said he saw Encinas pull out a gun and point it straight at Burruss’ chest.

Moore said Encinas shot Burruss in the chest a few seconds later, then fled along with Godoy.

Encinas was also found guilty of attempted robbery and attempted aggravated robbery for the incident with Henderson prior to the shooting.

Defense attorney Chris Kimminau got Judge Howard Fell to throw out charges of attempted robbery and attempted aggravated robbery of Burruss and Moore after Moore testified that Encinas made no attempt to rob the boys.

Encinas is scheduled to be sentenced April 6. He faces life in prison with or without the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Godoy is scheduled to go to trial May 12. He is being tried for the same six counts as Encinas, along with a charge of hindering the prosecution.