A Los Angeles County jury found David Marvin Blake Jr. guilty on December 4, 2025, of second-degree murder & shooting from a motor vehicle in the killing of 33-year-old Julio Moises Cardoza Jr. The shooting occurred on May 25, 2022, in Downey, California, after a physical altercation between Cardoza and an unidentified male. According to the prosecution, Blake Jr. was seated in a nearby vehicle when he shot numerous rounds, hitting Cardoza in his chest and body. Cardoza later died at a hospital. The enhancements for use of a firearm and great bodily injury were found true. As one court official put it during trial, the evidence
“linked the gunfire directly to Mr. Blake.”
Blake Jr. left the scene following the shooting but was arrested the next day in Porter Ranch. His bail was set at $2 million. Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged him with second-degree murder and firing from a vehicle, both serious felonies under California law. Ballistic analysis and witness testimony formed the backbone of the prosecution’s case. While his defense did not publicly outline its full strategy, jurors deliberated for several days before returning guilty verdicts on both charges. A deputy DA said the verdict
“reflects the strength of the evidence and the gravity of the loss.”
Sentencing is set for February 6, 2026, and he faces a potential term of 40 years to life in state prison.
A tweet from X.
Known musically as D. Blake, he had built a modest career of his own. He appeared on DJ Quik’s 2014 album The Midnight Life, releasing singles such as “Official” and “Rollin’,” and in early 2025 issued a four-track EP titled Try My Best. In interviews he described himself as someone who
“grew up around music and always wanted to make something real.”
Outside music, he worked as a liaison to Compton Councilman Isaac Galvin, calling the role
“a chance to help the community.”
Galvin later pleaded guilty in 2024 to bribery tied to cannabis permits.
The case has reignited conversations around the Blake family’s long-documented struggles. DJ Quik himself was convicted of assault in 2006, a crime he described at the time as “a terrible mistake I had to own.” His daughter Davienna was convicted of manslaughter in 2010 for the death of her toddler. Social-media reactions to the conviction have reflected a mix of sadness, criticism, and disbelief, with some users saying the family’s troubles are “a tragic pattern,” and others urging empathy for everyone involved.
Public information on Julio Moises Cardoza Jr. is limited, though he is listed on gun-violence memorial sites. Friends described him in online tributes as someone who “deserved more time and peace.”
The case points out the grave concern about drive-by-style shootings throughout Los Angeles County, where hundreds of incidents have been recorded in the past years. Investigators described the Downey shooting as one of the many that fits a pattern when a sudden conflict results in deadly gunfire.
