Burglary Suspects Facing Murder Charges in Fatal Crash

INDUSTRY, CA - Authorities on Wednewsday identified three burglary suspects now facing possible murder charges after they allegedly were involved in a collision that claimed the life of a 66-year-old driver in Industry.

Los Angeles residents Anthony Quisenberry, 35, and Michael Smyer, 26, and 32-year-old Charles Allen of Hawthorne were fleeing a Hacienda Heights crime scene about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday when their vehicle crashed into a small SUV at the intersection of Gale Avenue and Johnson Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The SUV driver, identified as Rojelio Gonzalez of Downey, was pronounced dead at the scene, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau said.

Deputies from the sheriff's Industry station had responded to a burglary in progress in the 15200 block of Folger Street in Hacienda Heights. Witnesses told deputies that two men were seen kicking in a neighbor's door, while a third man waited across the street in a Chevrolet Camaro, according to the department.

Deputies spotted the black Camaro near the intersection of Gale and Gatlin avenues and began chasing the vehicle, but broke off the pursuit because the Camaro was being driven into oncoming traffic. Soon after, the deputies were notified the suspects had crashed into an SUV.

"The three suspects ran from the collision but were apprehended shortly (thereafter)," Navarro-Suarez said. "They were subsequently booked for murder, burglary and evading a peace officer causing injury or death. Each are being held in lieu of $1 million bail."

Officials have not disclosed which of the suspects was driving the Camaro.

Gonzalez was the utility vehicle's sole occupant.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock