3:16pm
Los Angeles police today announced the arrest of the suspected gunman charged, along with a Venice Beach hotel owner, in a transient’s shooting death during a disturbance.
Francisco Guzman, 28, was arrested about 9:55 a.m. Monday by the FBI-LAPD Fugitive Task Force and jailed in lieu of $3 million bail in connection with the killing of Jascent Warren.
A police statement identifies Guzman as the “suspected shooter” of the 26-year-old victim, who was gunned down shortly after 2 a.m. Aug. 30 near Rose Avenue and Ocean Front Walk. A second person was shot in the leg.
Guzman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one count each of murder,
attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon with two prior convictions.
Co-defendant Sris Sinnathamby, who owns the Cadillac Hotel on Dudley Avenue, is charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder.
Sinnathamby, 54, was arrested Aug. 30 by Los Angeles police and pleaded not guilty Sept. 1. He was released on bond the following day.
Both men are due back in court next Wednesday, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial.
Witnesses told CBS2 that the hotel owner was with the gunman at the time of the shooting. Warren was among a large crowd of people in front of the Cadillac Hotel when a fight broke out over who was camping where, witnesses told reporters.
Sources close to Sinnathamby told Yo! Venice that Sinnathamby remained at the scene after the shooting, along with his ex-girlfriend, and a group of employees, and that he was soon turned upon by an angry mob.
Sources said he obtained serious injuries, including a broken eye-socket and has stitches across the entire top of his head.
Witnesses, made up of the group of men responsible for the violent attack on Sinnathamby, accused him of ordering the shooting, sources tell Yo! Venice.
Read the original Yo! Venice story here.
