Thursday, January 20, 2005 - LANCASTER -- An ex-convict who was paid $250,000 by Los Angeles
as part of the Rampart police scandal has been ordered to stand trial
in the May 2004 slaying of a man in a Palmdale apartment complex
garage.
Alleged gang member Roy Montes, 27, of Lancaster is charged in the
killing of Palmdale resident Travis McMillon, 58, who died from
multiple gunshot wounds.
"We still haven't figured out a motive. It could have been over
drugs or it could have been attempted robbery," Deputy District
Attorney Hayden Zacky said.
Montes was bound over Wednesday for trial on charges of murder and
an allegation that he personally used and discharged a firearm
resulting in a death.
Montes' attorney, Herb Barish, declined to comment on the case.
If convicted, Montes faces 25 years to life for the murder charge,
plus another 25 years to life for the gun allegation, and a prior
conviction for attempted robbery would double the murder sentence to
50 years to life in prison, Zacky said.
Montes has other convictions for assault and possession of rock
cocaine for sale.
Witnesses said the victim had been talking to a woman in an
apartment garage on 10th Street East just after 4 a.m. May 15 when
Montes came into the garage, Zacky said.
The woman went into a nearby apartment, then heard gunshots, Zacky
said.
"Witnesses heard shots fired. The victim stumbled back into the
apartment mortally wounded, and Montes slid out the partially open
garage door and fled," Zacky said.
McMillon was pronounced dead at Antelope Valley Hospital.
Zacky said the victim and defendant knew each other.
At the time, Montes was believed to have been living in a Lancaster
motel for several weeks but did not return to it after the slaying,
officials said.
Montes was arrested by Los Angeles police in June 2004, records
show.
News Topics |
Home | Research |
History | Blood Gangs | Crip Gangs | Hispanic Gangs | People|
Life in a Gang |
Gallery | Iraqi Cards
|
Memorial |
Migration |
Graffiti | Resume| Injunctions
Homicides |
Maps |
California Prisons | Contact
