Local News in Brief : Man Arrested in 2 Deaths at Party
A Pomona man who authorities believe is a gang member was arrested Monday and charged with shooting to death two guests at a Rowland Heights house party, officials said. Howard E. Jones, 18, is suspected of killing Aaron Martin Vaughn, 16, and Christopher William Baker, 18, both of Rowland Heights.
On Dec. 9, Jones was among several hundred people attending a going-away party for Victor Sanchez, who was going to Mexico. Jones allegedly confronted Vaughn at the party, drew a semiautomatic small-caliber handgun and fired four shots.
One bullet struck Vaughn point blank in the chest, witnesses said. Another struck Baker, a bystander, who died several days later at a West Covina hospital.
Jones was booked on suspicion of murder and held without bail at the Sheriff’s Department’s Walnut station. Investigators said the shooting appeared to be the result of a dispute between rival gang members.
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