Two men pleaded not guilty Friday to charges stemming from a Glendale triple slaying during a targeted home invasion robbery that turned deadly.
John Lay Poh, 23, and Jordan Michael Byrd, 22, are charged with three counts of murder for the April 18 killings of 36-year-old Deandre Tyronne Sims, 50-year-old Leon Gough and 35-year-old Christian Moukam Wamba.
The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder for financial gain, murder during the commission of a robbery and murder during the commission of a burglary, along with allegations that both men personally and intentionally discharged a handgun.
Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against the two, who were arrested in June in the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, area.
A third man, Franklin Sadler, 23, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder. He had pleaded not guilty earlier and is awaiting a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to require him to stand trial.
Sims, Gough and Wamba were found dead after Glendale police responded to calls from neighbors reporting shots fired at Gough’s home in the 1300 block of Columbia Drive, just west of Adams Street.
One victim was found in the garage area, and the others were found inside the home.
“Detectives believe this was a targeted home invasion robbery turned murder,” Glendale police Sgt. Dan Suttles said shortly afterward.