4 Charged in Slaying of Jewelry Store Owner
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DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Four men were charged Monday with murder and other felonies in the fatal shooting of a jewelry store owner during a robbery last Wednesday.
The defendants were arrested shortly after the 7 p.m. robbery and killing of Soliman Babai, operator of Classic Whole Jewelry at 734 S. Broadway.
Kevin Williams Peebles, 32; Darnell Keith Mathews, 19; Larry Richard, 33; and Arnell Lovert Johnson, 33, were in custody without bail pending arraignment today in Los Angeles Municipal Court.
Each defendant is charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegations of robbery and burglary, and one count each of robbery and burglary, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Goodwin.
A decision will be made later on whether the district attorney’s office will seek the death penalty, Goodwin said.
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