The four teenagers arrested for their suspected involvement in the shooting deaths of two teenagers in Libby Lake Park pleaded not guilty to murder charges on Wednesday afternoon.
On Mar. 13 at around 9 p.m., four teens were shot at Libby Lake Park on Calle Montecito. Two victims were injured, but 16-year-old Edgar Sanchez Rios and 13-year-old Melanie Virgen died in the shooting.
The suspects include Martin Melendrez, 21, of Vista; Michael Zurita, 19, of Vista and Santo Diaz, 19, and a 17-year-old who will be tried as an adult. All of the suspects have been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
During the arraignment, Judge Kimberlee Lagotta ordered the accused shooters be held without bail.
The District Attorney’s office accused the four suspects of killing the two teens in relation to gang activity.
The park is also the site of a fatal shooting in 2011, when two teens died as a result of their injuries.
Local law enforcement and the community are demanding action and have vowed to make the park a safer place.
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