A man who allegedly killed three people in Pasadena and then held police at bay before surrendering pleaded not guilty Thursday.
John Izeal Smith, 44, is charged with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of attempted murder of a police officer.
The murder charges include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Smith.
He is accused of fatally shooting 59-year-old Maria Aguiar, who was found outside a home in the 1700 block of North Summit Avenue about 4:20 p.m. July 12.
A good Samaritan who rushed to her aid, 29-year-old Jose Hernandez Iribe, was fatally shot in the chest, according to police and prosecutors.
Smith holed up inside the home after the shootings and called 911, authorities said. He spoke to a police dispatcher who eventually helped persuade him to surrender.
Aguiar’s father, 91-year-old Luis Fernando Aguiar, was then found shot to death inside the home.
Smith remains in jail without bail. He is due back in a Pasadena courtroom Dec. 11, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
— City News Service