Culver City Man Pleads Not Guilty To Triple Murder

CULVER CITY, CA – A Culver City resident has been charged with killing three people: his father, a carjacking victim, and a third unrelated victim, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. Juan Roberto Saucedo, 36, faces three counts of murder with special circumstance allegations, which can elevate the charges. The special allegations include: murder in the commission of carjacking, murder in the commission of kidnapping and multiple murders.

Deputy District Attorney Allyson Ostrowski said Saucedo also is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling. The criminal complaint further alleges the defendant inflicted great bodily injury upon the attempted murder victims and that a handgun was used, the District Attorney's Office said. The criminal complaint includes allegations that Saucedo was convicted of carjacking in 2001 and criminal threats in 2009.

Saucedo pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday and is scheduled to appear on Feb. 21 next year.

On Sept. 3, the defendant allegedly got into an argument with his father, Robert Saucedo, 67, and his father's girlfriend at their residence. Juan Saucedo is charged with shooting both of them, killing Robert Saucedo and severely injuring the girlfriend, the prosecutor said.

The defendant then allegedly fled the house and carjacked Jesus Estevez Martinez, 27, who was driving nearby. The defendant allegedly forced Martinez to drive him to Lennox before fatally shooting him. From there, Juan Saucedo is charged with going into another residence and fatally shooting Arturo Canela Pulido, 47, the prosecutor added.

Following that shooting, the defendant allegedly shot into an occupied dwelling before shooting a man driving by as he attempted to carjack the man, the prosecutor said.

Juan Saucedo faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's and Los Angeles Police Departments.

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