Extradition Sought in Shooting of Deaf Men

A federal prosecutor in New York said Sunday that Joey Paul Bellinger--arrested there Friday after being charged with killing one deaf man and wounding another in Granada Hills--may be returned to California for trial as early as Tuesday.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Craig Benedict said Bellinger, 16, who was arrested Friday in Utica, N.Y., by FBI agents, faces an extradition hearing before a New York magistrate today. Benedict said he expects Los Angeles police detectives to return Bellinger to California following the hearing.

Bellinger, who lives in Long Beach, is suspected in the Jan. 28 shooting of two Palmdale brothers, Cesar and Edward Vieira. Cesar Vieira, 30, died of chest wounds the next day. Edward Vieira, 25, is still recovering from wounds to his hip and shoulder, police said.

Bellinger was riding in a car with four friends when they pulled up next to the Vieiras, who were on a motorcycle, at Balboa Boulevard and Devonshire Street. After exchanging stares, the people in the car and the Vieiras pulled into a nearby parking lot.

The Vieiras--who had limited speaking skills and usually communicated through sign language--were apparently unable to comprehend what was happening, police said.

In an interview with a Utica newspaper, a Cassville, N.Y., woman said Joey Bellinger had stayed at her house after she received a telephone call Jan. 30 from his mother.

The woman, identified as Susan Alguire, said Phyllis Bellinger, an old high school friend, told her the family was moving from Long Beach and asked if Alguire would board her son temporarily.

Alguire, who could not be reached Sunday, told the newspaper the boy’s mother did not tell her he was a fugitive.

Los Angeles police said they plan a news conference this morning on the Bellinger case but declined to release further details.