A 32-year-old man who shot and killed a father outside the North Hollywood swap meet for seemingly no reason last year pleaded no contest to murder and was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 6, to 45 years to life in state prison, court records show.
Angel Banuelos of Los Angeles had been out of prison for seven days before he shot and killed 26-year-old Delfino Moor of Canoga Park from the passenger seat of an SUV at the back of the swap meet building in the 7500 block of Lankershim Boulevard, according to testimony contained in a preliminary hearing transcript reviewed by the Southern California News Group.
Banuelos also admitted an allegation of personal and intentional use of a firearm, court records show.
The shooting occurred about 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2025 and three men were arrested that same day.
Banuelos was the only one charged in the shooting. His half-brother, Joshua Provencio, was driving a blue Honda CRV with Banuelos in the front passenger seat and Jonathan Cuellar, a friend, in the back seat, Provencio testified at the preliminary hearing, which took place about a month after the shooting.
Provencio, who was 21-years old at the time, testified that Banuelos had been up the night prior drinking beer and smoking in his room. He convinced Banuelos to head out to get some fresh air. They then picked up Cuellar and went to a liquor store before going to the swap meet to buy T-shirts.
Moor was with his girlfriend of seven years and their daughter at the swap meet to get a back window on his car tinted after it previously had been broken.
When Provencio pulled up in the CRV, he and Moor recognized each other and exchanged pleasantries. Moor went over to give him a handshake, Provencio testified. At that moment, Banuelos reached across and fired one shot from a black revolver, hitting Moor in the chest and causing him to fall to the ground.
“What’s up with that, man?” Cuellar, who also testified at the hearing, recalled saying after Banuelos fired. “That was not cool what you just did.”
Moor’s girlfriend, Mandy Diaz, said she remembered the driver get out of the car and attempt to put Moor in his car, then he yelled “You need to take him to the hospital.”
The shooting shocked both Provencio and Cuellar, they testified. Banuelos ran away first, then Cuellar ran off a minute later and Provencio ran off last. Three men were brought back by officers and Diaz recalled recognizing Provencio and Cuellar.
Cuellar testified that he didn’t think Moor would die that day.
“I would have never gotten in the car that day because an innocent person’s life was lost, and he was a good man,” Provencio said at the hearing. “He was a family man. He had his kids, you know. He did not deserve that.”
Provencio added that Moor was not involved with gangs.
During questioning from Banuelos’ attorney, Provencio said Banuelos had mental health issues, including schizophrenia and paranoia, and that he was taking medication.
Though he had been drinking and smoking in his room the night prior, Banuelos seemed normal when they were out on the day of the shooting, Provencio testified.