Canoga Park Man Gets Life in Killing of Shopper at Mall

A Canoga Park man convicted of shooting to death a shopper in the Topanga Plaza mall parking lot made obscene gestures in court Thursday as a judge angrily sentenced him to life in prison without possibility of parole.

A Van Nuys Superior Court jury three weeks ago deliberated less than one day before finding Emilito Halili Exmundo, 29, guilty of first-degree murder.

Witnesses at Exmundo’s monthlong trial said he fired one shot into the face of Camille B. Gibbs, 45, a Canoga Park insurance claims adjuster who was buying a wedding gift, and then sped away in her Corvette.

The slain woman was two months away from receiving a bachelor’s degree at Cal State Dominguez Hills and had planned to become a drug-abuse counselor, family members said.

In contrast to his reserved behavior throughout the trial, when he wore a religious cross, Exmundo on Thursday came without the cross and repeatedly smirked and made lewd finger motions in court.

Judge Darlene Schempp angrily contrasted his trial demeanor with his actions Thursday, concluding he had not been sincere and was “totally without remorse.”

Exmundo was apprehended less than three hours after the shooting when he tried to rob the Country Squire Liquor Store in Chatsworth.

The store’s owner, John Olden, wrestled with Exmundo, who was shot in the leg by his own gun in the struggle.

Olden and his wife, Charlyne, said at the trial that they subdued Exmundo by hitting him on the head with liquor bottles.

The Oldens said that Exmundo cried “Kill me!” after he stopped struggling.

Leroy Gibbs, husband of the slain woman, wiped away tears after the sentencing and said the penalty “seems so little for such a loss.”

Gibbs expressed regret that prosecutors did not seek the death penalty for Exmundo, whom he called “that cold-blooded man.”

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, said a committee of five top prosecutors decides whether to seek the death sentence in first-degree murder cases.

The committee does not give reasons for its decision because such statements might be used by defense attorneys, Gibbons said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Phillip H. Rabichow, who prosecuted Exmundo, speculated Thursday that the committee was deterred from seeking a death sentence by Exmundo’s lack of a criminal record and “because it’s unclear whether he intended to actually kill her when he undertook the robbery.”