Dead 5 year old
Fredric L. Rice
Article Published: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 8:53:12 PM PST
Girl's death allegedly vengence
Witness: Beating prompted attack
By Christina L. Esparza , Staff Writer
WEST COVINA -- The shooting death of a 5-year-old West Covina
girl was spurred by a former high school teacher's vengeance
for his beaten son, a witness testified Wednesday at a
preliminary hearing for two men accused in the slaying.
Witness Luis Gutierrez an ex- boyfriend of the teacher's
daughter said John Barco had asked him and Alex Guerrero to
"retaliate' against Rashaun Ware, the father of 5-year-old
Larissa Ware, who was killed in her West Covina home just
before Christmas.
Gutierrez did not participate and testified Barco had
threatened him if he went to police.
Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile found there was enough
evidence to hold both men for trial. Guerrero's and Barco's
arraignment is scheduled for May 18 at 8:30 a.m. at Pomona
Superior Court, Division N. Bail was set at $1.25 million
for Guerrero and $1 million for Barco.
Gutierrez said Rashaun Ware had fought with Barco's son,
Johnny, which resulted in the younger Barco's
life-threatening injuries.
Rashaun Ware said outside the courtroom later that
Gutierrez's claims were not true.
Guerrero had been living with Barco at the time of the
shooting, Gutierrez testified. He, too, had dated Barco's
daughter.
Barco's attorney, Anthony Robusto, said Gutierrez didn't
come forward to police until after he was arrested for
breaking into the apartment of Barco's daughter.
Outside the courtroom, Barco's wife and mother painted a
different picture of the former West Covina High School
special- education teacher.
"He's a good guy,' said Maribel Barco, John Barco's wife.
"He's helped so many students.'
Maribel Barco brought to court several letters from
students written to her husband since his arrest in
March. Many said he was the best teacher in school;
others suggested he rely on his faith to get him through
the trial.
His mother, Marie Burke, wrote in a statement that her
family has been through several hardships in the last
two years, including the loss of an infant in the family,
and feels for the Wares.
She also said her son is incapable of the crimes for
which he is being charged.
"For the Ware family ... we most certainly feel your
pain, anger, frustration and most important, why did
something so terrible have to happen to an innocent
5-year-old child?' she wrote.
Guerrero is charged with killing Larissa, conspiracy to
commit murder, shooting into an inhabited dwelling and
the attempted murder of Vicky Ware, Larissa's mother,
who said Wednesday she was shot at when she panicked and
ran outside about 10 p.m. Dec. 21.
"It was hard,' Vicky Ware said of testifying. "It just
brings it back to that day.'
Barco is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and
conspiracy to shoot into an inhabited dwelling.
West Covina Detective Dario Aldecoa said at the hearing
Johnny Barco admitted during questioning his father had
plans to retaliate against Rashaun Ware.
Police say Guerrero drove to the Nolandale Street home,
got out of the car and fired several rounds. He allegedly
got back into the car, made a U-turn and fired at the
home again.
One witness, Dean Vanderhayden a reserve police officer
for the Monterey Park Police Department said he saw
Guerrero in the car from where the shots were being
fired when he ran outside after hearing the first
round of shots.
He said the car was about 12 feet away.
"He looked at me,' Vanderhayden said of Guerrero.
Guerrero's attorney, Robert Corrado asked the judge to
strike Vanderhayden's testimony because as an officer,
he did not have to disclose any information that would
reveal where he lived.
Corrado's request was denied.
Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Henri Floris said he
pulled Guerrero over minutes after the shooting and found
shards of glass in his pockets, along with a plastic
baggie full of bullets.
He also saw a gun on the passenger seat of the car, which
was recovered by the investigators at the West Covina
Police Department.
Corrado asked his client be moved into protective custody
because there had been four attempts on Guerrero's life while
in the custody of the Sheriff's Department.
-- Christina L. Esparza can be reached at (626) 962-8811,
Ext. 2472, or by e-mail at christin...@sgvn.com .
---
http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
http://PerkinsTragedy.org http://www.rightard.org/
"Fred is replacing Clinton's penis as the rightard's fixation" - mordacpreventor