Second Alleged Street Racer Charged with Murder in South Bay's Man Death

A man who allegedly took part in a street race that resulted in the death of an innocent motorist in Hawthorne was charged Friday with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and street racing causing injury.

Anthony Leon Holley, 46, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon at the Airport Branch Courthouse.

Holley surrendered to Hawthorne police shortly before midnight Tuesday. The red Camaro he was allegedly driving at the time of the crash, which occurred just before 1 p.m. Jan. 15, was located in Fontana and impounded, said Hawthorne police Investigator Sean Judd.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the victim’s car was previously charged with both murder and vehicular manslaughter. Alfredo Perez Davila, 23, of Hawthorne, who was taken into custody at the scene of the crash, has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors Friday added a third charge against Davila -- engaging in a speed contest on a highway causing injury -- so both defendants are now facing the same three charges.

Davila was allegedly racing against the Camaro northbound on Crenshaw Boulevard when he lost control of his Chevrolet Cobalt near 135th Street, swerving across all lanes before slamming into the center median, said Hawthorne police Lt. To Goetz.

The Cobalt went airborne, eventually landing on a Honda CRV headed south on Crenshaw, Goetz said. The Honda’s driver, Benjamin Golbin, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Davila was treated for his injuries and taken to the Hawthorne police station, where he was arrested. The driver of the Camaro fled the scene, according to Hawthorne police.

Davila and Holley are both due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles Feb. 8 for a hearing on whether there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial. Davila is also scheduled to be arraigned that day on the new charge, prosecutors said.

The two each face up to 15 years to life in prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the Hawthorne Police Department