Driver charged with murder
A 19-year-old man suspected of street racing and causing a crash that killed a mother and her two children made his first appearance in court Thursday as he was charged with three counts of murder, the district attorney’s office said.
Robert Canizalez was arraigned Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court in El Monte. He is being held on $3-million bail.
Canizalez is alleged to have driven a red Ford Mustang that struck the car of Dora Groce, killing the 41-year-old El Monte woman, her son Robert, 8, and daughter Catherine, 4. The Groces were pulling out of the Brookside Mobile Country Club onto Elliott Avenue in their Nissan Altima about 5:40 p.m. Monday.
Police said they still were searching for Martin Morones, 21, the driver of a Honda Accord believed to have been racing with Canizalez. Morones was charged Tuesday in absentia with three counts of murder and one felony count of hit-and-run, authorities said. The two men and the Groces lived in the mobile home park.
If convicted, Canizalez could face life in prison.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
