# Man who got Trader Joe's manager killed after shooting grandmother and girlfriend learns fate

> Gene Atkins sentenced to over 200 years for killing Trader Joe's manager in LA shooting spree.
- Title: Man who got Trader Joe's manager killed after shooting…
- Summary: Gene Atkins sentenced to over 200 years for killing Trader Joe's manager in LA shooting spree. Gene Atkins received more than 200 years in prison after being…
- Keywords: gene atkins, melyda corado, trader joe's, los angeles, second degree murder, felony charges, shooting spree, grandmother, girlfriend, manager killed, crime, news
- Source: Law & Crime — https://lawandcrime.com/crime/man-who-got-a-trader-joes-manager-killed-after-shooting-his-grandmother-and-teenage-girlfriend-learns-his-fate
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: gene atkins, melyda corado, trader joe's, los angeles, second degree murder, felony charges, shooting spree, grandmother, girlfriend, manager killed, crime, news
## Gene Atkins sentenced
Gene Atkins, 36, was sentenced to more than 200 years to life after being found guilty of 40 felony charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with a standoff that took the life of 27-year-old Melyda…
## Crime spree began
On July 21, 2018, Atkins began a crime spree that started at his grandmother's house in South Los Angeles.
## Shooting grandmother and girlfriend
After shooting his 76-year-old grandmother and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Atkins stole his grandmother's car and led police on a chase to the Trader Joe's grocery store in Silver Lake, a neighborhood in Los Angeles.
## Police chase
Atkins attempted to carjack someone at a gas station but was "unsuccessful" according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
## Trader Joe's standoff
During a press conference shortly after the incident, then-Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said Atkins fired on police who were chasing him before he crashed into a pole by the Trader Joe's.
## Shooting at Trader Joe's
Atkins got out of his car and fired on police as he ran into the store, and LAPD officers began shooting back.
## Melyda Corado killed
While aiming at Atkins, Moore said, "One of the officers' rounds struck Ms.Corado as she was exiting the market and was in close proximity to Atkins.Ms.

> One of the officers' rounds struck Ms. Corado as she was exiting the market and was in close proximity to Atkins.
## Corado's death
Fellow Trader Joe's employees dragged Corado outside so she could be treated by paramedics, but efforts to save her life were unsuccessful.
## Trial outcome
At his trial in June, Atkins was found guilty of 40 charges against him: three counts of attempted murder, six counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, 24 counts of false imprisonment of a hostage…
## Jury deadlocked
During that trial, the jury was deadlocked on the murder charge. Corado's family successfully requested a retrial, which resulted in a conviction.
## DA's statement
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Atkins' "deadly and reckless actions" caused Corado's death.

> deadly and reckless actions
## Civil suit
Corado's family sued the LAPD and the officers who fired the fatal shots and were awarded a $9.5 million settlement by the city of Los Angeles in September 2024.

> $9.5 million
## Event date
The incident occurred on July 21, 2018, and the sentencing took place in June 2026.
## Key takeaway

Gene Atkins received more than 200 years in prison after being found guilty of 40 felony charges for shooting his grandmother and girlfriend before killing a Trader Joe's manager in a Los Angeles standoff.