Murder Charge Filed in Car Theft-Related Death

A Sun Valley man was charged with capital murder Wednesday for allegedly committing a carjacking that caused the death of the car’s owner in a traffic accident as the owner tried to give chase.

Albert Cavazos, 34, was charged with one count each of murder, carjacking, robbery, grand theft auto and attempted grand theft auto, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Cavazos is liable to the death penalty because Di Zhong Song, 61, died during the commission of a carjacking, said William H. Johnson, the deputy district attorney handling the case.

The series of events began Sunday evening at the Villa Las Palmas motel on San Fernando Road in Pacoima.

At one point, Cavazos--who was staying at the motel--allegedly tried to steal a 1987 Buick Skylark belonging to Song, the motel manager. But the engine did not start, Song confronted him and Cavazos ran off, police said.

At about 9:30 p.m., however, as Song was getting ready to go somewhere, he left the engine running while he briefly went back into the motel.

Cavazos, lurking nearby, jumped in the car and sped away, according to police. As he ran into the street to flag down a taxi and give chase, Song was hit by a passing car.

Song’s wife witnessed his death, police said. Song’s family also lived at the motel.

The driver of the vehicle was not charged because he did nothing wrong, according to police.

Police tracked down and arrested Cavazos on Monday.

He is being held without bail pending an arraignment hearing scheduled for today in San Fernando Municipal Court, according to the district attorney’s office.