Second conviction in Zaldivar killing; mastermind awaits trial

A jury took about two hours to convict Emmaneul Wallace of first-degree murder in the September 2012 shootings of Alex Zaldivar in an home in Ocoee.

Wallace was also found guilty of attempted murder of two others, siblings who were also pulled out of their beds and shot in the head, execution style.

Wallace was not the gunman, but helped co-defendant Bessman Okafor carry out a plot to silence Zaldivar, a witness in an upcoming home invasion trial, according to prosecutors.

Okafor faces trial in August.

The Zaldivar family will make a victim impact statement in open court on March 18, when Wallace is sentenced. He faces life in prison.

The victim's father, Rafael, has been outspoken in his zeal to have all ten people implicated in his son's death brought to justice.

Co-defendant Donnell Godfrey was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in November. 

He thanked the jury for its work, saying "they will sleep well tonight."

"It's been an emotional roller coaster," he told News 96.5 while outside the Orange County Courthouse shortly after the verdict was read.