Man Pleads Not Guilty in Slaying of Car Burglar
A 46-year-old Toluca Lake man pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge for allegedly shooting a fleeing car burglar in the back.
Daniel Bernard McDonald is due back in court May 17 for a pretrial hearing. He is charged with murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle. McDonald allegedly fired at least seven shots at two men who fled after he caught them burglarizing a car outside his apartment complex Dec. 7.
One of them, Henry Lemus, 23, died.
McDonald’s defense attorney contends he was defending himself and his son from the men, who McDonald claims fired on him. But prosecutors say McDonald fired the only shots.
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