Charges Filed in Slayings of 2 Men

Drug and accessory-to-murder charges were filed Wednesday against a man allegedly involved in the shooting deaths of two men during a drug theft at a Pacoima house, Los Angeles police said.

Angel Rosales, 36, formerly of Pacoima, was arrested Monday in Visalia where he had apparently moved after the double slaying June 4, Detective Al Ferrand said. Rosales is expected to be arraigned today in San Fernando Municipal Court.

Police believe Rosales was with several suspects who allegedly gunned down Gonzalo Millan, 27, and Plutarco Pineda, 26, both of the Santa Ana area, after they arrived at a house in the 11800 block of Phillippi Avenue.

The residents of the house, who found the bodies when they returned home, have told investigators that they did not know the victims or why they had come to the house. Ferrand said detectives are investigating whether there was any relationship between the residents, the victims or the suspects.

Evidence from the double slaying and information about the victims led investigators to Rosales, Ferrand said. Rosales was charged with being an accessory to murder and trafficking in narcotics, Ferrand said.

The victims were part of an Orange County drug ring and were killed in an apparent drug rip-off scheme involving members of a Pacoima drug ring, Ferrand said.

He declined to give further details.

He said investigators are unsure how many other suspects were involved in the shooting.