A hearing was held Monday for a 16-year-old boy accused in a gang-related shooting in Escondido that killed an innocent woman.
At a juvenile court in Kearny Mesa, Jose entered a not guilty plea to a murder charge. The judge allowed the media to only use the teen suspect's first name.
Prosecutors have not determined if Jose will be charged as an adult, as they believe he was an accomplice in the March 7 shooting. The teen suspect is scheduled to appear in court April 4 for a status hearing.
RELATED: Accused gang member pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of Escondido woman
The other suspect in the case, 24-year-old Dionicio Torrez Jr., pleaded not guilty last week in connection with the shooting. He also faces a gang participation enhancement that could lead to the death penalty.
Escondido police said Torrez Jr. and another gang member spotted a rival gang member tagging across the street. Torrez Jr. reportedly opened fire on the rival gang member, fatally shooting 55-year-old Catherine Kennedy in the process.
Kennedy was struck in the head by a stray bullet as she was driving on East Grand Ave. after leaving a church event. She died at the hospital.
