Local News in Brief : Arleta Man Convicted in Death of Woman in Pacoima Shooting
- Share via
An Arleta man was convicted Thursday of fatally shooting a woman in the face and wounding a man in the leg in a Pacoima parking lot last December.
A San Fernando Superior Court jury deliberated for about half a day before convicting Carlos Montes, 24, of one count of first-degree murder in the Dec. 28 slaying of Patricia Lemus, 21, in a parking lot at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Rinaldi Street.
The jury also convicted Montes of one count of assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting of Ernest Acosta, who sought to prevent him from leaving the scene.
Witnesses testified during the trial that Montes apparently was looking for a man who beat up his brother when he rode into the parking lot on a motorcycle brandishing a gun about 9:45 p.m.
Most of the people in the lot ducked behind their cars but Lemus drew attention to herself by running to a car to protect her baby, who was inside, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie L. Samuels. Montes then shot her because he “just wanted to kill somebody,” Samuels said.
Montes could be sentenced to 34 years to life in prison, Samuels said. Montes is to be sentenced on Jan. 8 in San Fernando Superior Court.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Tom Girardi was a legal legend—until he was found guilty of stealing millions from his own clients. Host Madison McGhee and pop culture commentator Kiki Monique unpack how his downfall became a Real Housewives scandal, and what Erika Jayne may or may not have known. Plus, L.A. Times reporter Harriet Ryan joins to share how she helped bring Girardi’s crimes to light.
Sammy Roth visits America’s second-largest nuclear plant, Arizona’s Palo Verde Generating Station, and sits down with three experts to explore the pros and cons of atomic energy.
