LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A Texas man was charged today with killing a 17-year-old girl and injuring an innocent bystander when a fight that erupted following an illegal Hollywood street race ended in gunfire.
Ramon Roque Monreal, 33, of El Paso, Texas, was expected to be arraigned downtown Tuesday on one count each of murder and attempted murder, along with gun and great bodily injury allegations. He was being held in lieu of $3 million bail, according to jail records, and prosecutors plan to ask a judge to set that number at $5 million, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
If convicted as charged, Monreal faces a maximum sentence of 80 years to life in prison, officials said.
Monreal is accused of pulling out a gun during a brawl that erupted just after midnight Saturday at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Some of the fight was caught on cell phone video, and the shots can be heard ringing out as the combatants grappled.
Prosecutors allege that when people in the crowd attempted to disarm Monreal, he fired multiple shots.
At least one of the bullets struck a girl identified as 17-year-old Alejandra “Ale'' Estrada of Huntington Park. Police said she died at the scene.
Officer Kevin Snare of the Los Angeles Police Department's Operations Center said there had been a street race in the area. A large group of people was gathered at the popular Hollywood intersection after the race, leading to the fight.
According to reports from the scene, another man was also shot but suffered only minor injuries, and took himself to a hospital, though prosecutors allege a victim other than Estrada suffered great bodily injury.
Monreal was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies at around 3:45 a.m. Sunday in the area of 223rd and Figueroa streets. He was in possession of a firearm, the LAPD said.
Friends of the teen killed in the shooting gathered at the scene throughout the day Sunday, particularly Sunday night, leaving candles and pictures, and writing messages.
On a GoFundMe page, which had raised more than $29,973 as of Tuesday afternoon, the girl was described as “one of a kind and the life of the party.''
“Yesterday around midnight, Ale was caught in crossfire at a car show and was shot and killed instantly,'' according to the page. “This hit everybody by surprise. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and unfortunately it cost her her life. She will forever live in our hearts.''