An 18-year-old woman pleaded not guilty Monday in connection with a pair of San Pedro-area shootings, including a fatal shooting at a bar.
Estrella Rojas has remained behind bars since her arrest March 7 by Los Angeles police in connection with the shootings, which occurred two weeks apart in January.
The first shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, when a 19-year-old man was approached by two suspects, one who was armed with a firearm, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The man attempted to drive away from the location, but one of the suspects fired the weapon, striking the victim’s vehicle.
The second shooting occurred around midnight Jan. 20 at the Machista Bar in the 900 block of South Pacific Avenue after what police described as a dispute between multiple parties. Tyrone Tyars, 33, was killed in the shooting, authorities said. Two other people, a 35-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, were injured.
Relatives said Tyars was a father of two, and said he had gone to the bar to pick up his girlfriend, who called him from the location saying she was in trouble and needed help.
Rojas is charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder, along with gun use allegations.
Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker issued a statement two weeks ago, hailing the arrest and thanking police and the public who called in tips to authorities.
“This arrest is important to both the family and friends of Tyrone Tyars and our entire community, which has been deeply disturbed by this senseless act of violence,” McOsker said. “Tyrone’s young life was cut far too short and the pain that his partner, children, loved ones and friends have gone through is unimaginable. It is my hope that this arrest brings accountability and justice to his memory.”
Rojas is due back in a Long Beach courtroom May 7. A date is scheduled to be set then for a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to allow the case against her to proceed to trial.