Ghedeer 'Tony' Radda, a 49-year-old business owner from San Diego, California, was tragically killed on October 10, 2018. Radda, who owned Bottom Price Flooring in the East Village, was found unresponsive on the floor of his store by a customer. Upon arrival, police and rescue personnel discovered that Radda had suffered severe trauma to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Radda had been fatally shot during a robbery at his business.
The case quickly drew significant attention, leading to an extensive investigation by the San Diego Police Department. Surveillance footage from the area showed two suspects: a man wearing a Halloween-style mask resembling an older woman and a woman with long purple hair, possibly a wig. The footage captured the suspects entering the store, with the woman luring Radda to the back of the store where he was subsequently shot by the masked man. After the shooting, the gunman forced open the cash register with a pry bar and stole cash, while the woman acted as a lookout. The suspects then left the scene, walking in opposite directions.
The investigation led to the arrest of Kevin Eugene Cartwright, 55, and Lorena Espinoza, 38. Cartwright was identified as the masked gunman, while Espinoza was the woman with the purple wig. Both were charged in connection with Radda's murder. Cartwright was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges, and in June 2022, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Additionally, he received an extra 70 years to life for other convictions, including a robbery that occurred the day before Radda's killing. Espinoza pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 16 years to life in state prison.
During the trial, it was revealed that Cartwright and Espinoza had planned the robbery, with Espinoza entering the store first to distract Radda. The prosecution presented evidence from smart streetlight cameras and surveillance footage from inside the store, which played a crucial role in identifying and convicting the suspects. Despite the defense's arguments that there was no definitive proof of Cartwright being the masked gunman, the jury found the evidence compelling enough to convict him.
The murder of Ghedeer 'Tony' Radda left a profound impact on his family and the local community. Radda was remembered as a charming, soft-spoken man with a heart of gold, who had built his business from the ground up. He is survived by his wife and two young daughters, who continue to mourn the loss of a beloved husband and father. The case highlighted the senseless nature of the crime, with the judge describing the killing as 'unconscionable' and 'pure evil.'
