Calabasas Man Gets 50 Years to Life in Slaying of El Camino Real High Soccer Goalie

A Calabasas man was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years to life in prison for killing a 17-year-old El Camino Real High School student and soccer goalie, who was gunned down outside his family's home in Winnetka last year.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic denied the defense's motion for a new trial for Jason Alejandro Schumann, 26, who was convicted Sept. 19 of first-degree murder for the Jan. 11, 2012, killing of 17-year-old Francisco "Pancho" Rodriguez.

The teenager -- who had just returned home from a soccer game -- was shot in front of his home in the 6900 block of Cozycroft Avenue when he went outside after a red-haired woman or girl knocked on the door and asked for him by name. He was shot three to four times in the chest and back.

The shooting was motivated by Schumann's jealousy over his girlfriend leading him to believe that the teen had been sexually involved with her, according to Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman.

Schumann was arrested five days after the shooting and has remained jailed since then.

Esther Rodriguez, in a statement read in court by a representative from the District Attorney's Office, said her life "changed forever" the day her son was shot.

"While I was inside of my house on the phone, I heard gunshots and ran outside and the first thing I saw was my son, Francisco, my 17-year-old baby, my only son, laying face-down on the ground in my front yard. To my horror, I saw he was shot," she said. "I ran to him, crying and screaming for help. I saw how my son's life was slipping away and his soul was leaving his body."

She called her son's loss "devastating" and said she has had to continue her life with a broken heart.

-- City News Service