Man Dropped as Suspect in 4 Slayings

Prosecutors declined to file charges Monday against one of four men arrested in connection with the murder of four people in Lake View Terrace in August.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Myron L. Jenkins said prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence to charge Nash Newbil, 52, of Lake View Terrace with being an accessory to murder. County records show that Newbil owned a house in the 11400 block of Wheeler Avenue where the killings occurred. Police have said rock cocaine was being distributed from the house.

Prosecutors filed murder charges against a fifth man in the case Monday. Jenkins said charges were filed against Le Roy Wheeler, 19, of Sylmar. Wheeler surrendered to police last week in connection with the Sept. 25 murder of Tracy Anderson, 24, in Lake View Terrace.

Also charged with murder in the quadruple slaying are Stanley Bryant, 30, and Levie Slack III, 24, both of Pacoima. Antonio Johnson, 28, of Lake View Terrace is charged with being an accessory to murder.

The defendants are accused of the Aug. 28 murders of Lorretha Anderson English, 23, of Seaside, Calif.; her 28-month-old daughter Chemise; Andre Armstrong, 31, and James Brown, 43, both of St. Louis.

Wheeler, Bryant and Slack, who would face the death penalty if convicted, are also charged with the attempted murder of Carlos English, the victim’s 1-year-old son. The boy received minor injuries during the shooting.

According to court records, Bryant and Armstrong were co-defendants in a 1982 murder. The murder charge against Bryant was dismissed and Armstrong pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.