2 Held in Shooting Death of Friend

A man and a woman who went with a friend to collect a debt in Studio City were in custody Saturday on suspicion of murder after their friend was fatally shot, police said.

David Betancur, 26, of Sepulveda and Kelly Ann Poglitsch, 19, of Sylmar were being held without bail, although police said neither fired the shot that killed their 43-year-old companion.

Police said the dead man, whose name was withheld, apparently was shot in self-defense on Friday by William Taylor, 41, after the victim used the butt of a semiautomatic assault rifle to smash his way into Taylor’s home in the 4500 block of Simpson Avenue.

Betancur and Poglitsch were arrested at the scene about 6 p.m. Friday, and were being held without bail on suspicion of murder pending arraignment early this week, police said.

Lt. John McCrillis said when a death occurs during the commission of a crime, those involved in the crime can be charged with murder even if they “didn’t necessarily do the shooting.”

Betancur, Poglitsch and the victim had gone to Taylor’s house late Friday afternoon, apparently because of a dispute over a vehicle and money the victim claimed Taylor owed him.

Police said Taylor and his girlfriend, Sheri Herman, 42, were watching television when Herman heard a vehicle pull up in front of the house. Looking out the window, she saw an acquaintance running through the yard to the back of the house clutching an assault rifle.

Taylor retreated to a rear bedroom and returned with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Police said the victim broke the glass in French doors at the rear of the house. Police said Taylor, believing he and Herman were about to be killed, fired a single round into the attacker’s upper torso.

Police said Taylor and Herman ran to a neighbor’s house to wait for police. Betancur and Poglitsch were arrested without incident a short time later.