A man who took his ex-girlfriend’s rejection out on four strangers whom he shot in Downtown San Diego has been sentenced to 175 years to life in state prison.
Justice Boldin, 28, a parking attendant on J Street, was killed just after asking Travis Sarreshteh, 34, why he shot him once on April 22, 2021.
His mother, Denise Boldin, confronted Sarreshteh in San Diego Superior Court moments before he received more years than he can serve in one lifetime.
“You don’t know me, but you changed my life. You took away from me one of the loves of my life,” said Boldin. “And you’ve ruined your own life.”
Denise Boldin said she inherited her son’s dog, Belli, and she gives her a lot of walks.
“Justice was a man who lived life to the fullest. It’s been such a loss to no longer have him,” said Justice’s mother.
Sarreshteh had rented a hotel room for himself and his ex-girlfriend on Broadway for a romantic evening, but she didn’t want to join him, which angered him. He had previously battered her and she had broken up with him some time earlier, according to court records.
About 10 minutes after leaving his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, Sarreshteh opened fire upon strangers with a ghost gun that had no serial numbers. He asked a group of men if they were laughing at him, and they said no, but he shot several of them anyway. Boldin was the only one killed, and three were wounded.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin imposed consecutive terms stacked on one another that came to 175 years to life plus four life terms on Jan. 19.
Kirvin ordered Sarreshteh to pay $11,742 towards funeral expenses, which would be taken from any meager earnings in prison.
Kirvin also sentenced Sarreshteh to one year in prison for three counts of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend. A study of mass shootings has been released recently that says domestic violence is often related to mass shootings.
A sister of Justice Boldin testified through her computer from another state and asked the judge “please keep him locked away so he won’t do this again.”
“I think the world needs to remember Justice Boldin and his kidness,” said Sharon Vail, a family friend, who told Sarreshteh “I pray that in your heart that you become a better person.”
Vincent Gazzani was shot in the chest and he told the judge “I was three-quarters of an inch from losing my life.” He thanked “the heroes” that night who tackled Sarreshteh before police arrived and said “I am super lucky to be alive.”
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Paugh said Sarreshteh “will be a danger as long as he can pull a trigger.” She added the sentence will send a message to others who might want to go on a shooting spree.
Sarreshteh’s attorney, Andre Bollinger, protested the sentence, saying it was not justice to “throw away the key for a term that no human being can serve.”
“Good luck in prison,” said someone from the audience after the sentencing ended.
“Thank you,” said Sarreshteh, which was the only statement he made in court as he has never testified in his case.
A jury convicted Sarreshteh of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on Sept. 14, 2022. Steven Ely, 69, a retired teacher, testified he was shot in the abdomen while walking Downtown to a club where his musician son was playing. Two other tourists from New Jersey were injured.
Sarreshteh was given credit for 638 days previously spent in jail.