Man to Be Tried in Killing of Woman Near Mall

A Canoga Park man was ordered Thursday to stand trial on a charge he shot a woman to death during a robbery in the parking lot of the Topanga Plaza mall and then tried to hold up a liquor store, where the owner shot and captured him.

Emelito Halili Exmundo, 29, could face the death penalty if convicted because the March 29 slaying occurred during a robbery and involved the use of a firearm.

He is charged with murder and robbery in the shooting of Camille Gibbs, 45, of Canoga Park, who had gone to the mall to buy a wedding present.

At a two-day preliminary hearing in Van Nuys Municipal Court, several witnesses testified that they saw Exmundo approach Gibbs as she was placing packages from the May Co. into her Corvette about 7:30 p.m. They said there was a brief struggle, then Exmundo shot her in the mouth, took her purse and sped off in her car.

Gibbs, an insurance claims adjuster, was scheduled to graduate from Cal State Dominguez Hills in May after attending classes part time for two years.

In addition to the charges in the Gibbs shooting, Judge Leslie A. Dunn also ordered Exmundo to stand trial on a second charge of robbery stemming from a liquor store holdup later that evening.

Witnesses said that about two hours after the Gibbs slaying, Exmundo used a pistol to rob the Country Squire Liguor Store in Chatsworth. However, authorities said, Exmundo was shot in the leg during a struggle with the store owners, a husband and wife, who held him until police arrived.

He also is charged with auto theft because police found a stolen car at his home, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Phillip H. Rabichow.

Exmundo, who is being held without bail, is to be arraigned Aug. 1 in Van Nuys Superior Court.