Westwood Killing Suspect Denies Guilt, Sees Frame-Up

Insisting that he was framed, a reputed South-Central Los Angeles gang member pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he shot and killed a Long Beach woman on a busy Westwood street on Jan. 30.

Durrel DeWitt Collins, 21, entering the plea at his arraignment in Santa Monica Municipal Court, was charged with the murder of 27-year-old Karen Toshima, who was shot in the head when fighting broke out among rival gang members. He also was charged with attempted murder for trying to shoot another reputed gang member, Tyrone Swain, who authorities said was the intended target when Toshima was mortally wounded.

Asked by Judge Rex H. Minter for his plea to the charges, Collins in a barely audible voice replied: “Not guilty, sir. It’s a setup. I didn’t do . . . (it).”

Later, as he was led away from the courtroom, he reiterated his claim that he was set up, bailiffs reported.

Collins’ court-appointed lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Leslie Falick, met with him for an hour following the arraignment and later declined to elaborate on Collins’ assertion, citing the attorney-client privilege.

“He’s obviously upset about this,” she said. “No one wants to see his picture spread all over the papers.”

Security was unusually tight in the courtroom. Collins was surrounded by three Los Angeles County deputy marshals, and a fourth officer stood at the courtroom door, barring entry once the proceedings began.

Collins was arrested without incident early Saturday when police raided his home on West 58th Place. A .38-caliber handgun believed to be the murder weapon has been confiscated, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Sandra Harris.

The death of Toshima, a graphic artist, touched off beefed-up police patrols in trendy Westwood Village and criticism by South-Central Los Angeles community leaders, who argued that authorities do not react with the same vigor to street-gang violence in their neighborhoods.

Harris said four other gang members, who were in the “immediate vicinity” of Collins at the time of the shooting on Broxton Avenue near Weyburn Avenue, are being sought by authorities. If captured, they, too, will be charged with murder and attempted murder, she said.

But Harris declined to reveal their identities or gang affiliation.

A hearing was set for Feb. 23. Collins’ bail was set by Minter at $1 million.