A Puerto Rico man is facing life imprisonment after his conviction for murdering eight people and an unborn child as well as attempting to murder another 19 people in a Puerto Rico pub in 2009.

Earlier this month, on March 8th, 41-year-old Alexis Candelario-Santana was convicted on 28 counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, one count of racketeering conspiracy, nine counts of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

He was convicted of these crimes in connection with an attack that has been called the “La Tombola Massacre” that took place in October of 2009.

Candelario-Santana was the brutal leader of a drug trafficking organization in the area of Sabana Seca, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. From 1993 until 2003 Candelario-Santana’s organization bought drugs in bulk, processed and re-packaged the drugs, that included marijuana, heroin,crack, and cocaine, and distributed those drugs to people under his control. It is revealed that during that time, Candelario-Santana murdered or ordered others to murder 13 people that he deemed a threat to his organization or people within his organization that he thought were disloyal to him.

In 2002, Candelario-Santana was arrested and charged with numerous murders. Upon his arrest, a co-defendant, Carmelo Rondon-Feliciano took control of the operation while Candelario-Santana ran part of the drug trafficking organization from prison. In 2006, Candelario-Santana was ousted from leadership of the organization, this infuriated Candelario-Santana.

Later that same year, in September of 2006, Rondon-Feliciano was arrested on drug charges and another co-conspirator, Semprit-Santana, took over operation of the drug ring.

In February of 2009, Candelario-Santana was released from prison.

On October 17th of 2009, Semprit-Santana threw a grand opening party at a pub that he had rented, called the La Tombola in Toa Baja. The grand opening was over-run with attendees, with people packed within and without.

At 11:50 pm, Candelario-Santana, along with others, that included David Oquendo-Rivas, drove to La Tombola. On their arrival, they immediately entered the pub and opened fire on the people inside. Using eight .9 mm semi-automatic pistols, three 40 caliber semi-automatic pistols, two 45 caliber semi-automatic pistols, three AK-47-type assault rifles and one AR-15-type assault rifle, they expended at least 335 rounds of ammunition on the party-goers. Included in those that were killed were Candelario-Santana’s Godson, Rondon-Feliciano’s stepson and Candelario-Santana’s cousin.

The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision to sentence Candelario-Santana to death and so, he will recieve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Candelario-Santana will be formally sentenced on June 21st, 2013.