Son of rapper DJ Quik sentenced to 15 years to life for Downey murder

NORWALK — The son of rapper DJ Quik was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in state prison for a man's shooting death in Downey nearly four years ago.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Walton agreed to the defense's request to strike and dismiss gun allegations that could have resulted in an additional 25-year-to-life sentence being tacked on for David Marvin Blake Jr., 31.

The judge called the case "an absolute tragedy," noting that the younger Blake had "no prior record" at age 27 and telling him that a "split- second decision that you made does not define your character or who you are." She told him that "at some point you will be paroled."

Outside the Norwalk courthouse, the victim's sister, Michelle Cardoza, said she was "not happy" with the sentence.

"But that's what California does -- gives murderers a chance," she said. "He got away with having a gun."

Speaking shortly before being sentenced, the defendant said he is "sorry for the role" he had in Julio Moises Cardoza Jr.'s May 25, 2022, death, and said his "heart aches for the Cardozas."

But he maintained that he was "truly in fear for my life" and "believed I was going to die" after he was asked to drive his boss, then- Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan, to the Cardoza family home, where a fight broke out.

"I'm no murderer ... I'm no coward," the younger Blake said.

The victim's mother, Elida Cardoza, said through a Spanish interpreter that her son "lost his life because of the actions of a man that didn't care that I was beside my son and grandson.

"There is no greater pain than having your son die in your arms," she said. "I yelled at him not to leave me ... I realized that his soul was leaving his body, that I was losing him forever."

In a statement read on his behalf, the victim's father said his family has been devastated by his son's killing and that "our life has been a living hell."

The victim's sister told the judge that Blake had choices and used a gun, saying that her brother would otherwise be alive if the defendant hadn't carried a gun.

"He is dead because of him," Michelle Cardoza said, telling the judge that the defense tried to "rewrite the truth" about what happened.

The victim's young nephew said his uncle's death made him feel sad. He told the judge, "I miss him."

Defense attorney Joseph Gutierrez noted that 27 letters praising Blake's devotion to the community, church and public service were submitted to the judge, adding that his client's life had been "exemplary" without any prior arrests before the shooting.

The younger Blake's girlfriend described him to the judge as a man who wouldn't even run over a squirrel. She said she wanted to acknowledge the Cardoza family for their loss and heartbreak and said it hurts that this was their experience of knowing her boyfriend.

His older sister described him as someone who "consistently tried to do what was right" and said it has been "devastating" to watch him go through the criminal justice process, while his mother, said her only son is a man of integrity and honor and will never be "a murderer."

"I have never had any issues with him," she said. "My son has never been in trouble at all, not even in school."

Blake's attorney told the judge that the shooting occurred as a result of a "sudden, rapidly escalating confrontation." He said it "would not be justice to sentence this man to multiple life sentences," urging the judge to reduce or strike the gun enhancements.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Kang countered that Blake was driving around with a loaded firearm when it was not legal for him to do so, saying that he believes there has been an effort to blame the victim for what happened.

The judge -- who hours earlier had rejected the defense's motion for a mistrial or to reduce his conviction from second-degree murder to manslaughter -- told the victim's family members that she cannot even imagine the grief that they are experiencing. She noted that nothing she did would ease the pain or tragedy of what happened.

Speaking to Blake's family, she noted that he shouldn't have even been at the victim's family home that evening and that he was simply "following the orders of his boss." The judge said Galvan "set this whole tragedy in absolute motion" and "never produced himself to be a witness" during the trial.

The judge said she believes that the defendant did see a shotgun pointed in his direction -- as the defense contended -- about three minutes before he opened fire, but questioned why he didn't drive off without Galvan and instead picked up a gun and fired in the victim's direction after he had maneuvered the vehicle out of the driveway.

She told the defendant that he was "truly caught up in a terrible situation" and "made the wrong decision, a split-second decision," saying later that she found the victim was not armed with a gun at the time he was shot.

Blake was arrested after the shooting, but subsequently released from jail.

He was taken into custody again after the jury convicted him last Dec. 4 of second-degree murder and shooting from a motor vehicle, along with finding true the gun allegations.

Blake's father -- whose real name is David Marvin Blake Sr. -- is a rapper, DJ and producer with several studio albums to his credit. He has also collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Kurupt, Erick Sermon and Shaquille O'Neal.