LOCAL : 4 Suspects Held, Fifth Sought in Drive-By Van Nuys Slaying

Four suspected gang members, including three women, were in jail this morning in connection with a drive-by shooting that left one man dead in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police said.

However, police said they are still seeking a man believed to have fired the semi-automatic weapon that showered Oditon Navarete’s car with more than 20 bullets Saturday morning and killed him.

Detective Jim Vojtecky said those arrested Tuesday night are Robert Ayala, 19, of Panorama City; Karen Argott, 18, of Arleta; Tanya Dowdy, 18, of Sun Valley, and a 17-year-old Sun Valley girl. The three adults were being held without bail at the Van Nuys jail and the youngest girl was turned over to juvenile authorities.

All were arrested on suspicion of murder, Vojtecky said. Police are still looking for Walter Oswaldo Barillas, 22, of Canoga Park, who is believed to have been the triggerman, Vojtecky said.

Navarete, 23, of Pacoima, was shot several times about 12:30 a.m. Saturday while driving westbound on Oxnard Avenue near Van Nuys Boulevard. A passenger in his car, Irma Ortega, 21, was not injured because Navarete pushed her to the floor of the car.

Police said the motive for the shooting appears to have been a dispute between Ortega and the three female suspects. The three attempted to enter a private party being hosted by Ortega Friday night at the Eagle Lodge in Van Nuys but were not allowed in.