Crime & Safety
Man Accused In Jack In The Box Murder, Robbery, Pleads 'Not Guilty'
Murder charges include attempted robbery, allegation that the accused personally & intentionally discharged a handgun, court documents say.
ARCADIA, CA — A 20-year-old San Gabriel man accused of gunning down an employee during an attempted robbery at a fast-food restaurant in El Monte last fall pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a capital murder charge.
Louie Francisco Herrera is charged with killing Juan Vidal, 25, who was shot in the chest about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at a Jack in the Box restaurant in the 9200 block of Flair Drive.
The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation that Vidal was murdered during the commission of an attempted robbery, along with an allegation that Herrera personally and intentionally discharged a handgun.
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Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Herrera, who was arrested Jan. 9 and charged two days later with the killing.
At a Jan. 26 news conference at which Herrera's arrest was announced, the victim's tearful mother thanked homicide detectives.
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"You guys were so helpful to capture this monster that did this to my son," Mary Smay said. "But I still miss my son."
Vidal had recently completed pharmacy technician training and was engaged to be married.
Sheriff's Homicide Bureau Capt. Steven Katz said in January that tips came in from various sources that led investigators to focus on Herrera as the suspected killer, but he declined to be more specific.
The department had released surveillance images of the shooter, and rewards for information leading to the masked killer -- totaling $55,000 -- were offered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the city of El Monte, the Jack in the Box franchise where Vidal worked and the restaurant's corporate office.
Detectives believe Herrera is also connected with other robberies in the San Gabriel Valley area, Katz said shortly after Vidal's arrest.
Herrera remains jailed without bail while awaiting his next court appearance in Pomona on April 17, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
City News Service
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