Prosecutor Frees 2 in Drive-By Slaying

Murder charges have been dropped against two suspected gang members accused of killing a Pacoima man after he barred them from a birthday party in Van Nuys.

Robert Ayala, 19, of Panorama City and Tanya Dowdy, 18, of Sun Valley were released from custody Thursday after prosecutors decided there is insufficient evidence to prove they aided and abetted the Jan. 13 drive-by shooting of Odilon Navarrete, 23, said Van Nuys Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie Samuels. “We can prove only that they were passengers in the car,” she said.

A murder charge also was dropped against a third person, Karen Argott, 18, of Arleta, who drove the car, Samuels said. But prosecutors said the charges against Argott were dismissed for technical reasons and will be refiled.

An arrest warrant still is in effect for Walter Oswaldo Barillas, 22, of Canoga Park, who prosecutors say fired the shots. A 17-year-old girl who was in the car is scheduled to appear in Sylmar Juvenile Court on Feb. 28 to face murder charges.

Twenty to 30 shots were fired toward Navarrete as he drove west on Oxnard Street near Van Nuys Boulevard, police said. A passenger in the car, Navarrete’s girlfriend, Irma Ortega, 21, escaped injury when he pushed her to the floor of the car, police said.

Navarrete had earlier turned away the three female suspects when they tried to enter a private party at the Eagle Lodge on Haskell Avenue in Van Nuys, police said.