Apr 9, 2008 10:43 am US/Pacific
Gang Member Pleads Not Guilty In Murder Of Boy, 17
Jamiel Shaw Was Gunned Down Just Blocks From His Home
LOS ANGELES
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Pedro Espinoza, 19, pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of 17-year-old Jamiel Shaw.
CBS
A 19-year-old reputed gang member who was charged in the March 2 shooting death of Los Angeles High School football player Jamiel Shaw Jr. Wednesday pleaded not guilty to murder.
Pedro Espinoza is accused of fatally shooting Shaw, 17, in the 2100 block of Fifth Avenue, just three blocks from the teen's home.
The charge includes the special circumstance allegation that the defendant was "an active participant in a criminal street gang and the murder was carried out to further the activities of the criminal street gang."
The criminal complaint also alleges that Espinoza personally discharged a handgun.
Espinoza, who is being held without bail, is due back in court for a status conference on May 1. His preliminary hearing is set for May 15.
U.S. immigration officials believe Espinoza, a member of the 18th Street gang, may have been in the country illegally. That fact prompted Shaw's family to appear before the Los Angeles City Council Tuesday, urging city leaders to go after criminals who are in the country illegally.
"We have a problem with the system. My son was murdered by someone that was here illegally. No matter how you look at it, that's what happened," Jamiel Shaw Sr. told reporters before entering the council chamber.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty for Espinoza, who was arrested March 7 and charged March 11 just before Shaw's funeral.
Espinoza is being held without bail.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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