UPDATE (2:57 PM): The LA County Coroner’s office has confirmed the names of the victims as Amanda Ghossein, 24, Jennifer Kim, 26, Robert Calabia, 34, and Teofilo Navales, 49.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrests of four suspects in connection to the fatal shooting of four people in Granada Hills Sunday morning.
The shooting occurred at 17441 Devonshire St. at 4:25 a.m. A memorial has been built on the sidewalk in front of the house to honor one of the victims, Amanda Ghossein, who would have turned 25 Tuesday.
According to the LAPD, the victims were visiting friends at the residence when they were confronted and shot by the suspects, who then fled to Las Vegas.
The suspects were taken into custody at the Silverton Casino, on Monday afternoon. Ka Pasasouk, 31, of Los Angeles, was arrested for murder and Howard Alcantara, 30, of Glendale, was arrested and booked for robbery and aiding a felon. Two additional suspects, Donna Rabulan and Christina Neal, both of Los Angeles, were arrested for aiding a felon.
Police Chief Charlie Beck spoke at a press conference congratulating the work of the Robbery Homicide Division, Valley Bureau and Las Vegas authorities.
“The operating Valley Bureau patrol officers (and) detectives initially responded to the scene and went with a very grisly tableau involving the deaths of four individuals in Northridge,” Beck said. “Robbery Homicide Division was called in because of the magnitude of this case and immediately started the investigation.”
Beck said few details are able to be released at this time because the investigation is ongoing.
“It has been a case that has gotten much public attention not only locally, but nationally. The successful prosecution of this case is very important to the city of Los Angeles,” the police chief said.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised the efforts of Los Angeles and Las Vegas police for quickly apprehending the suspects.
“As you know, crime in the city of Los Angeles is at its lowest levels in decades, it’s at the lowest levels we’ve seen since the 1950’s because of the work of the men and women who wear that uniform,” said Villaraigosa. “Sadly, tragically, not every day is free of violence.”
Yesterday, city officials were at the site of the murders investigating building violations.
“Because of the crime committed here, it drew the attention of law enforcement and city resources to this particular location,” said Sgt. Jose Torres of LAPD’s Devonshire division.
Torres said 15 people were living inside the residence where the shooting occurred in front of, which might have drawn the attention of the neighboring community.
CSUN alum John Antonucci, who lives on Blackhawk Street close to the murder scene, was shocked at the conditions of the house.
“I had no idea there were that many people who lived there,” Antonucci said.
Three structures were deemed unsafe, in part because of a gas leak and a lack of permits.
“We have determined that there is a structure on the rear of the building that didn’t have any permits and has been converted into a dwelling,” said Frank Bush, bureau chief of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. “It has some hazards on the building, so we determined it was unsafe and we are going to vacate it.”
Bush said the house had little history of issues with the building safety department.
“We haven’t had any complaints since 2009, we had a complaint here that alleged the garage was converted. Inspection was done, it was a garage at the time and there was no violation,” said Bush. “Since that day we have had no complaints about this property.”
Torres spoke about the unfortunate circumstances that led to the murders and subsequent vacating of the property.
“It’s a big world, you never know how things would have worked out,” said Torres. “But had we been more proactive with the property – last week four people lost their lives – maybe we could have addressed some of this prior to it happening.”
