News

Five Charged in Killing of Witness in 14-Year-Old Girl's Slaying

Friday, February 23, 2007

LOS ANGELES, February 23, 2007 -- Five reputed Hispanic gang members have been charged with murdering an acquaintance they believed witnessed the racially motivated shooting death of a 14-year-old black girl, prosecutors said Friday.

The five men -- one of whom is charged in Cheryl Green's killing -- were charged Tuesday with murdering Christopher Ash, 25, on Dec. 28. His body was found on a street in Carson with multiple stab wounds and his throat was cut, authorities said.

It wasn't immediately known what led authorities to connect the men to Ash's killing or how they knew he witnessed Green's death. Deputy District Attorney John Allen Ramseyer declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

Charged in Ash's slaying were Jose Covarrubias, 20; Robert Gonzalez, 29; Raul Silva, 31; Daniel Aguilar, 19; and Jonathan Fajardo, 18, who also is suspected of killing Green. Authorities identified the five as active participants in a street gang.

Besides murder, they faced the special circumstance allegations of intentional murder of a witness to a crime, lying in wait and committing murder to further their gang's activities.

The criminal complaint also alleged that Covarrubias and Gonzales used a knife to commit the murder.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty against them. They were scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Long Beach Superior Court.

Fajardo and another reputed gangster, 20-year-old Ernesto Alcarez, faced murder and hate crime charges for opening fire on Green and a group of her friends on Dec. 15 in the Harbor Gateway section of Los Angeles.

Authorities said the men were bent on killing blacks. Both are scheduled to be arraigned March 8 in Long Beach Superior Court.

Get more News »