The People v. Gene Evin Atkins

Los Angeles, California criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with attempted murder.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Gene Atkins, age 36, was charged with attempting to murder hs grandmother and girlfriend prior to a standoff at a Silver Lake Trader Joe’s where he held shoppers hostage inside for more than three hours.

“On July 21, 2018, Gene Atkins went on a trail of terror, attempting to kill two people, trying to carjack innocent bystanders, engaging in a gun battle with police and holding dozens of terrified people hostage,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Melyda Corado was needlessly killed, and others were gravely injured as a result of the defendant’s deadly actions. He may not have fired the shot that killed Melyda, but we still firmly believe he is responsible for her death.”

Jurors deliberated for three days before finding Gene Evin Atkins (dob 1/12/90) guilty of three counts of attempted murder, six counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, 24 counts of false imprisonment of a hostage, two counts each of attempted carjacking and mayhem and one count each of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, fleeing a pursing peace officer’s vehicle and driving or taking a vehicle without consent.

The jury deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge that killed 27-year-old Melyda Marciela Corado, an assistant manager at Trader Joe’s.

Atkins faces a sentence of more than 80 years to life in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.