An 18-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly shooting in a San Pedro bar, which resulted in the death of a 33-year-old father of two, confirmed the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspect, Estrella Rojas, was apprehended earlier this month after a meticulous investigation involving the LAPD and the FBI.
The incident in question unfolded on January 20, according to CBS News Los Angeles, when Tyrone Tyars went to pick up his fiancée from the Machista Bar. The authorities say a dispute erupted among several individuals, after which Rojas allegedly opened fire, striking Tyars, his fiancée, and another man. "He only came here to pick up his kids' mother," Tyars' mother, Ira McGrady, told the news outlet. "How did my son get murdered?"
Rojas faces one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder over the bar shooting, as well as an earlier incident on January 6 that did not result in any injuries, but involved gunfire striking a vehicle.
According to LAPD Newsroom, Rojas was arrested on March 7 with the support of the LAPD FBI Fugitive Task Force and is currently held at the 77th Street Jail. The shootings are believed to be unrelated, however, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office swiftly brought charges against Rojas following her capture. "This arrest is important to both the family and friends of Tyrone Tyars and our entire community, which has been deeply disturbed by this senseless act of violence," Councilmember Tim McOsker said in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles.
The LAPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding both shootings and encourages anyone with additional information to come forward. An initial manhunt was prompted by the brutal event at the Machista, with a suspect description released by officials after the incident, according to Hoodline. The nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victims remains unclear, and the community is grappling with the tragic loss of Tyars, who leaves behind two children.
