Extradition Near 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 when the incident occurred. The Vieiras, who had limited speaking skills and usually communicated through sign language, were on a motorcycle.
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