3 Men Plead Not Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Toddler

Three men pleaded not guilty Tuesday to fatally shooting a 3-year-old boy outside a Panorama City apartment complex earlier this month.

Los Angeles police arrested the three men and a 17-year-old boy last week in the May 9 killing of Alfredo Cardenas Jr. in the 14700 block of Blythe Street.

Juan Diego Ayala, 18; Jose Miguel Jimenez, 20; and Luis Alejandro Rodriguez, 18, were charged Friday with murder and using a gun. Each was in custody in lieu of $2-million bail, prosecutors said.

Jesus Delasancha, 21, whom authorities believe is hiding in the Antelope Valley, also has been charged in the child’s slaying.

The case of the 17-year-old, whose name was withheld because of his age, is being handled by the Juvenile Court. Prosecutors will ask that the minor be tried as an adult, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mike Jesic said.

If convicted, each adult defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.

Authorities said the boy was with his father, aunt, uncle and younger cousin when he was shot.

Gang members intervened in an argument between the boy’s aunt and uncle, police said. They beat the child’s uncle, then authorities believe Delasancha fired the shot that struck the boy in the chest.

“They’ve been terrorizing this area with impunity,” said Jesic, who specializes in gang prosecutions. “No one ever wants to call police because they are scared.”

This is the second time in 18 months that a suspected Blythe Street gang member has missed his target and killed an innocent bystander, Jesic said.

Magdalena Sandoval, 32, was shot to death Nov. 26, 2000, while walking to a convenience store in the 14600 block of Blythe Street with her 3-year-old daughter. Her suspected killer, Raul Maldonado, 18, is awaiting trial.