A judge sentenced Gene Evin Atkins to more than 200 years to life in the Silver Lake Trader Joe's case.

The sentence is the judgment after two juries. A first jury acquitted Atkins of first-degree murder and deadlocked on second-degree murder. A second jury convicted him of second-degree murder. CBS Los Angeles reported he did not fire the shot that killed Corado. Prosecutors held him responsible because her death resulted from what he did.

CBS Los Angeles, ABC7, and FOX 11 reported that on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, Gene Evin Atkins, 36, was sentenced to more than 200 years to life in the death of Melyda "Mely" Maricela Corado. CBS Los Angeles reported he was convicted of 41 counts, including second-degree murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer, attempted carjacking, and mayhem, for a crime spree on July 21, 2018. The sentence is what the court imposed after those convictions.

CBS Los Angeles reported Atkins set off the chain of events that ended at the Silver Lake Trader Joe's. The station reported he first shot his 76-year-old grandmother and his 17-year-old girlfriend in South Los Angeles, took his grandmother's vehicle, and led police on a chase. CBS Los Angeles reported he ran into the store firing at police, officers returned fire, and a police round struck and killed Corado, an assistant manager. ABC7 and FOX 11 reported then-Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore confirmed in 2018 that an officer, not Atkins, fired the bullet that killed her. CBS Los Angeles reported Atkins was not the person who fatally shot Corado and was held responsible on the theory that her death resulted from his actions. ABC7 reported prosecutors described that theory as provocative-act murder. The teenager is not named here and is not pictured.

CBS Los Angeles reported Atkins surrendered after a four-hour standoff inside the store, where he held employees and customers hostage. ABC7 reported he surrendered about 6:30 p.m., a little more than three hours after he ran inside. The stations are describing the same standoff. They do not use the same clock.

The murder count took two juries. ABC7 and CBS Los Angeles reported the first jury convicted Atkins of 40 counts, including 24 counts of false imprisonment of a hostage, three counts of attempted murder, and four counts of assault with a firearm on an officer. ABC7 reported that jury, in June, acquitted him of first-degree murder and deadlocked 10-2 for guilt on second-degree murder in Corado's death. ABC7 reported a second jury, on Aug. 18, found him guilty of second-degree murder and found true allegations that he personally used and discharged a firearm. CBS Los Angeles reported the same firearm findings. Those findings are the jury's findings that he fired. They are not a finding that his bullet killed Corado. ABC7 reported defense attorney Errol Cook told the retrial jury, "He did not kill Ms. Corado."

Albert Corado, Mely's father, spoke outside court after Wednesday's sentencing. "The result doesn't matter. My daughter is still not here," he said, according to CBS Los Angeles. "He took an angel ... My entire family, he changed us forever." Atkins has been convicted and sentenced, and he may appeal. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.