Greater than three years after a teenage boy was shot and killed in his Pasadena dwelling, officers have charged two folks in connection together with his loss of life.
Iran Moreno, 13, was enjoying video video games in his bed room on Nov. 20, 2021 when a stray bullet broke by means of his window and killed him. Police stated on the time that they didn’t consider Moreno was the shooter’s supposed goal.
L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman introduced Friday that Moreno’s alleged shooter Muhammad Abdul-Malik, 38, and his accused getaway driver Teraeja Laquanna Flemmings, 31, have been charged with the homicide of the Pasadena teen. Abdul-Malik faces an extra felony rely of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Each Abdul-Malik and Flemmings might face life in state jail if convicted as charged.
“The violence that took this younger boy’s life just isn’t solely tragic, but additionally unacceptable and legal,” Hochman stated Friday in an announcement concerning the expenses.
“No household ought to ever should endure the heartbreak of shedding a toddler beneath such horrific circumstances,” he stated. “Whereas we can not undo this tragedy, we’ll work tirelessly to make sure these accountable are held accountable.”
The district lawyer’s workplace couldn’t be reached instantly for extra remark.
The Moreno case had its first break in June, when Pasadena police launched to the general public figuring out details about the suspects obtained from just lately enhanced surveillance video.
Pasadena Police Lt. Carlo Montiglio stated the instruments used to boost the video “simply turned obtainable.”
“Because the know-how has improved, it’s allowed us to proceed additional with the case,” Montiglio stated.
Per week after the main points from the surveillance video have been launched, Pasadena police additionally launched to the general public detailed sketches of the suspects which finally led to their arrests, Montiglio stated.
Abdul-Malik was arrested Jul. 11 in Orlando, Fla., the place he awaits extradition, and Flemmings was arrested Jul. 16 in San Fernando. Her arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
Whereas the true goal of the taking pictures stays unknown, Montiglio stated, “We don’t consider it to be gang-related within the sense of retaliation or attempting to shoot at one other particular person.”
Montiglio additionally stated that though Abdul-Malik and Flemmings have been presumed to be a pair on the time of the taking pictures, they’re not believed to be collectively.
Within the days after Moreno’s 2021 taking pictures loss of life, Pasadena group members held a vigil in honor of victims of gun violence. Authorities additionally pledged to commit further assets to combating what Pasadena Deputy Chief Cheryl Moody known as a “rash of shootings.”
“The specter of gun violence is a real hazard, and the Pasadena Police Division is working diligently to get weapons off the streets and out of the arms of those that intend to hurt others,” Moody stated on the time.
Instances employees writers Summer time Lin, Nathan Solis and Brittny Mejia contributed to this report.
