Pasadena police say a late-evening confrontation on Ashtabula Street ended with a 42-year-old man dead and a 28-year-old suspect in handcuffs. The shooting happened last Wednesday in the 300 block of Ashtabula Street, where officers say gunfire erupted after a brief encounter between a group of men and a passing minivan. The victim, identified as Jose Garcia, was later dropped off at a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police account and arrest
According to CBS News Los Angeles, investigators say several men were standing near the roadway when a minivan carrying two people pulled up at about 7 p.m. After a short exchange, one of the men on the street allegedly pulled a handgun and fired around 13 shots at the vehicle, hitting the front-seat passenger, later identified as Garcia. Officers located 28-year-old Everett Johnson the next day and arrested him without incident, and police say they recovered a firearm during the arrest.
Charges and how the case moved to the DA
Detectives submitted their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, which filed charges that include murder (PC 187(a)), assault with a firearm (PC 245(a)(2)) and possession of a firearm by a felon (PC 29800(a)(1)), per Pasadena Now. Johnson was booked on suspicion of those counts, and his bail was set at $3,000,000, the outlet reports. The department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit is leading the investigation as detectives work to understand what led up to the shooting.
Investigation and community tips
Police urged anyone with information about the case to call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241, according to CBS News Los Angeles. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Crime Stoppers. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses in an effort to clarify who was involved and how the confrontation started.
How officers were alerted
Pasadena Now reports that officers were first dispatched after a SoundThinking automatic gunfire alert flagged shots fired in the area. Responding officers found multiple spent shell casings on Ashtabula Street. Investigators say that rapid alert helped them lock down the scene quickly and begin canvassing for witnesses and security video.
What’s next
The arrest marks a key step in what remains an active homicide investigation. Prosecutors are expected to review the evidence before finalizing any formal filings and moving the case through the court system. Johnson remains in custody, and investigators are still asking anyone with information that could help the case to come forward, per Patch.
