Jury convicts felon of Downey triple-murder

DOWNEY — A Los Angeles man was convicted today of killing two women and a man at a Downey business nearly eight years ago.

Jurors deliberated for about four hours before finding Jade Douglas Harris, 37, guilty of three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping for carjacking and one count of felon with a firearm.

The special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, carjacking and kidnapping were found to be true.

Harris faces the death penalty. The penalty phase of the trial is expected to begin on February 18.

Harris fatally shot Josimar Rojas, 26, Irene Cardenas Reyes, 35, and Susana Perez Ruelas, 34, on Oct. 24, 2012, after responding to an online advertisement for a vehicle for sale.

Rojas and Reyes were killed at United States Fire Protection, a business in Downey, where a woman was shot and injured.

Harris forced Perez Ruelas to drive him and her 13-year-old son to a nearby home where the vehicle was located. The defendant killed Perez Ruelas and shot her son but he survived.

He was found a day later and arrested.

Harris has prior felony convictions for robbery, attempted robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.