In a shocking turn of events, two men in California have been exonerated and released from prison after spending decades behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio, who were both teenagers at the time of their convictions, were wrongfully found guilty of separate murders that occurred in drive-by shootings. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon held a news conference to formally apologize to the men and commend his Conviction Integrity and Habeas units for their work in uncovering new evidence that proved their innocence.

Giovanni Hernandez, who was only 14 years old when he was arrested, was charged with a drive-by shooting in Culver City in 2006 that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Gary Ortiz. Despite maintaining his innocence and his family's belief in him, Hernandez was convicted six years later and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. His first claim for a conviction review was denied by a previous district attorney's administration, but in 2021, his case was resubmitted by attorney Marisa Harris of the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic at Loyola Law School. The Conviction Integrity Unity reopened the investigation and discovered new evidence and witnesses that had not been interviewed previously. Additionally, a reassessment of Hernandez's phone records from the day of the shooting proved that he was not near the crime scene. With this compelling evidence, investigators determined that Hernandez was innocent of the murder. His attorney, Ms Harris, spoke about the injustice her client had endured and expressed hope that his case would shed light on the plight of other young people serving long sentences for crimes they did not commit.

Similarly, Miguel Solorio was wrongfully convicted of a drive-by shooting in Whittier in 1998 that resulted in the death of an 81-year-old woman named Mary Bramlett. Solorio, who was 19 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, in 2021, Solorio's attorney, Ellen Eggers, submitted an innocence claim to the Conviction Integrity Unity, and the Northern California Innocence Project also filed a Habeas petition. The investigation into Solorio's case revealed that he had been misidentified as his brother in a photo lineup. The district attorney did not provide further information about the involvement of Solorio's brother, but it was enough to cast doubt on Solorio's guilt. Ultimately, his conviction was vacated, and he was released from prison after spending 25 years behind bars. Solorio expressed both gratitude and the difficulties he has faced in readjusting to life outside of prison. He emphasized the need for reform in the criminal justice system, particularly in the use of photo lineups, and called for other prisoners convicted through this method to have their cases reviewed.

District Attorney George Gascon acknowledged the grave errors that led to the wrongful convictions of both Hernandez and Solorio. He apologized for the pain and suffering they endured and praised the work of his Conviction Integrity and Habeas units in uncovering the truth. Gascon emphasized the importance of accountability in the legal system and vowed to prevent similar injustices from occurring in the future. He also pledged to investigate both cases further to determine who should have been held responsible for the murders.

The exoneration and release of Hernandez and Solorio serve as a stark reminder of the flaws in the criminal justice system and the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions. These men, who spent a significant portion of their lives behind bars for crimes they did not commit, are now free but must navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives. Their cases highlight the importance of continued efforts to reform and improve the legal system to prevent future injustices.