A Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a capital murder charge stemming from a drive-by shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy in Bellflower on Halloween night.
Jesus Chavez, 33, is charged with the shooting death of Sialeuvea Sitani, who was standing in the 16100 block of Bellflower Boulevard when he was gunned down about 10:45 p.m. Oct. 31.
The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle intentionally at another person outside the vehicle with the intent to inflict death, along with an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a shotgun.
Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Chavez, who was arrested Nov. 2 by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and remains jailed without bail.
Chavez is due back at the Norwalk courthouse Dec. 14, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
— Wire reports