From La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch 29 Jul 2011 (http://patch.com/california/lamesa/man-convicted-of-spring-valley-murder-has-death-sentence-upheld)

By Eric Yates (Patch Staff) - July 29, 2011 5:18 pm ET

On Thursday, the state Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of committing two murders in 1996, one of which took place in Spring Valley.

Correll Lamont Thomas was sentenced to death in October 1999 after being convicted of the murders of Ricky McDonald on May 17, 1996, and of Crede Grote on June 5, 1996. Thomas was also convicted of the attempted murder of Troy Ortiz.

McDonald was beaten to death, according to authorities.

Prosecutor Glenn McAlister said that Grote was shot to death in Spring Valley, after he glanced at Thomas' girlfriend when they pulled up next to Thomas' car at an intersection. Thomas and his girlfriend then chased the car carrying Grote and Ortiz, firing on them with a submachine gun when they were close enough. Ortiz was injured but did not die in the attack.

City News Service contributed to this story.