David Blake Jr., son of Compton hip hop veteran Dj Quik, has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for a fatal shooting.
In May 2022, 31-year-old Julio Moises Cardoza, Jr was fatally shot by Blake Jr. According to reports, the incident occurred after a fight broke out between Cardoza and another man in Downey, CA. Blake, who was nearby, allegedly opened fire from a vehicle, striking Cardoza multiple times before driving off. Cardoza was taken to a hospital, but did not survive his wounds. Blake was arrested the next day.
On Friday (Feb 27), Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Walton sentenced Blake Jr. to 15 years to life, dismissing the gun allegations that could have resulted in an additional 25 years.
Judge Walton called the case “an absolute tragedy,” per The Downey Patriot. She also noted that at the time of the offense, Blake Jr. was only 27 with “no prior record.” She told him that a “split- second decision that you made does not define your character or who you are.” She told him that “at some point you will be paroled.”
Per the outlet, Blake Jr, admitted that he was “sorry for the role” he had in the death of Cardoza. “My heart aches for the Cardozas,” he said. “I was truly in fear for my life and believed I was going to die,” after he was asked to drive his boss, then- Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan, to the Cardoza family home, where a fight broke out.
Blake worked as a liaison Councilman Galvan. In 2022, Galvin was removed from office due to allegations of election fraud. In 2024, Galvan pleaded guilty to taking bribes in exchange for cannabis permits.
The victim’s mother, Elida Cardoza, said through a Spanish interpreter that her son “lost his life because of the actions of a man that didn’t care that I was beside my son and grandson.
“There is no greater pain than having your son die in your arms,” she said. “I yelled at him not to leave me … I realized that his soul was leaving his body, that I was losing him forever.”
In a statement read on his behalf, the victim’s father said his family has been devastated by his son’s killing and that “our life has been a living hell.”
DJ Quik also released a statement saying that he wishes he could share the sentencing with his son.
“I’m disappointed that I didn’t get in front of that story and share the sentencing with my son,” he said. “The reality of all of this is that two families are irrevocably changed forever.”
Prior to the arrest and sentencing, Blake Jr. had a budding rap career, performing under the name D. Blake. He appeared on Quik’s 2014 album The Midnight Life. Blake also released several solo records, including “Official,” “Rollin” (featuring Kinglife Herb) and “I Wanna Know (Remix)” featuring Dom Kennedy.