Round 1:30 a.m. on a Saturday final month, two masked males approached a black Cadillac Escalade idling exterior a Northridge residence constructing.
One held a shotgun, the opposite a handgun. A surveillance system captured the sounds of what occurred subsequent: A gang problem, confusion, a requirement for property.
Then six pictures and sounds of the Escalade dashing off.
Within the passenger seat was Maria De La Rosa, 22, with a gunshot wound to the chest. A musician who carried out as DELAROSA, she had a rising following on the time of her loss of life on Nov. 22.
Authorities stated De La Rosa was killed throughout a theft however revealed little else concerning the case. The Occasions just lately reviewed a search warrant affidavit written by the Los Angeles Police Division detective who investigated the murder. In response to the doc, De La Rosa was arrange by her pals — two of three individuals now charged along with her homicide.
Arrested the day after the murder, Francisco “G Boy” Gaytan informed police he’d recognized De La Rosa since they have been youngsters, Det. Siranush Simonyan wrote within the affidavit.
Gaytan stated his buddy, Benny “Participant” Gomez, made plans to fulfill De La Rosa on Bryant Road for a “drug purchase,” however the plan was to rob the musician, the affidavit stated.
Gaytan, Gomez and the 2 alleged gunmen are from Bryant Road, a gang in Northridge, based on the affidavit.
Gaytan claimed he took no half within the theft, however after he consented to a search of his telephone, Simonyan stated she discovered textual content messages despatched to one of many alleged gunmen, Eduardo “Energetic” Lopez.
“Go get ski masks,” Gaytan allegedly informed Lopez 5 hours earlier than De La Rosa was killed.
Gaytan’s lawyer didn’t return a request for remark.
Gomez was interviewed the day after Gaytan spoke to police, Simonyan wrote. He too stated he was “childhood pals” with De La Rosa.
Gomez informed detectives he met up with De La Rosa after going to a membership. He was speaking along with her exterior Gaytan’s residence constructing when two masked males walked up and opened hearth. He ducked and ran, he stated, and solely discovered that De La Rosa had been killed when her mom known as him.
Gomez insisted he had nothing to do with the capturing. His lawyer didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Gomez’s account was belied by surveillance video, Simonyan wrote. Cameras mounted to a close-by residence constructing confirmed Gomez talking with Lopez and the second suspected gunman minutes earlier than De La Rosa arrived.
In response to the affidavit, Gomez shook their palms and made a Bryant Road hand signal earlier than gesturing for them to stroll down an alley, Simonyan wrote.
De La Rosa known as Gomez as he walked to greet her, the detective wrote. In the meantime, the 2 alleged gunmen approached the Escalade from the alley, pulling a shotgun and handgun from their pants.
“That is Bryant gang, n—,” one stated, based on the affidavit.
After De La Rosa was shot and the Escalade sped away, a voice — Gomez’s, detectives suspect — may be heard in surveillance video asking, “Why’d you shoot them, idiot?”
After stashing their weapons in a Chevrolet Astro van, Lopez and his confederate bought into Gaytan’s BMW 328i, Simonyan wrote. As he stepped into the sedan, the detective wrote, Lopez dropped a key piece of proof — a court docket doc along with his title and case quantity.
Gaytan appeared to argue with the alleged shooters contained in the automobile, the detective wrote. When he opened his door, surveillance cameras captured him saying, “Get out of right here.”
“You fools are dumb,” Gaytan stated. In response to the affidavit, he may he heard saying what gave the impression of, “What you fools did — I informed you what to make it seem like.”
The alleged shooters bought out of Gaytan’s automobile and sped off in a Honda Civic, presumably to Mexico, Simonyan wrote. About 13 hours after De La Rosa died, Gomez allegedly wrote in a textual content to Gaytan: “We good they left to tj.”
Gaytan and Gomez have but to enter pleas to fees of homicide and tried theft. Prosecutors additionally introduced fees towards Lopez, but it surely’s unclear if he’s in custody. Authorities haven’t stated if the second alleged gunman is charged with De La Rosa’s homicide, and his whereabouts are unclear.
