Suspect in MacArthur Park shooting is arraigned - Los Angeles Times
Jose Daniel Amaya, 27, was arraigned Monday on five counts of attempted murder with five gun sentencing enhancements that add jail time for committing a felony using a firearm. Officials say Amaya fired multiple shots into a group of people near Wilshire Boulevard and South Alvarado Street on Jan. 22 around 12:40 a.m.
All five victims were transported to a nearby hospital. Police say the victims were bystanders during a confrontation between rival gangs. Amaya was arrested that day, according to the district attorney’s office.
Amaya previously had two felony convictions under the state’s “three strikes” law. The district attorney’s office said he could face multiple life terms in prison if convicted.
“Gun violence continues to be a devastating scourge in Los Angeles, and today my office has taken decisive action by filing five gun sentencing enhancements, one for each victim,” Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said Monday. “These enhancements carry an additional penalty of 25 years to life in prison. This is a clear and unequivocal message: gun violence will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”
Amaya’s bail was set at $8 million.
Jasmine “Jaz” Mendez is an editorial assistant at the Los Angeles Times. She previously was a reporting intern for the Metro Desk, covering housing in Los Angeles. Mendez graduated from Cal State Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in Spanish-language journalism.
