David Carrillo, the man who barricaded himself in a Santa Monica Apartment on Feb. 21, pleaded not guilty this week after being charged with murder by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
In a statement, the Attorney's Office said Carrillo could receive a life sentence if found guilty of murder and that his bail is set at more than $1 million.
According to Deputy District Attorney Steven Gates, Carrillo is accused of fatally stabbing Wesley Morejon, 30, with a folding knife outside of a fast food restaurant in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department identified Carrillo as the suspect through the use of video surveillance and witness statements. Officers arrested Carrillo in Santa Monica after a multi-hour standoff that included the use of the Sheriff's helicopter, the SWAT team and a K-9 unit. The arrest shut down the area around the 800 block of Ocean Park Boulevard for several hours.
Detectives are still seeking the public's help in identifying possible witnesses to the original crime.
"Detectives are requesting the public's assistance in identifying several witnesses to the murder," officials said a statement issued on March 2. "Detectives are attempting to identify a female depicted in surveillance video wearing a white shirt with red stripes that appears to be with the victim in a store. In addition, detectives are trying to identify a black male wearing a green shirt who arrives in a Cadillac STS. It appears that this male not only witnessed the murder, but also videotaped it using his cellular phone."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Homicide Detective Francis X. Hardiman or Sgt. Jeff Cochran at LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Information can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or using the website lacrimestoppers.org.
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