Man, 18, Charged With Murdering Stepfather's Girlfriend In Case Of Mistaken Identity
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An 18-year-old man was charged Monday with murdering his stepfather's girlfriend after mistaking her for a woman he thought had been in a fight with his mother, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Jose Alberto Perez was charged with one count each of murder and assault with a deadly weapon as well as special weapon allegations, the D.A.'s Office said.
Perez is accused of taking a shotgun to his stepfather's house Wednesday in the 300 block of West 56th Street in South L.A.
Prosecutors say Perez mistook his stepfather's girlfriend, Yesenia DeLeon, 35, for someone who had previously been in an altercation with his mother and fatally shot DeLeon once in the face.
He is also accused of firing his gun outside the house upon leaving. No one was injured in that incident, according to the D.A.'s Office.
Perez was scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $2 million. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
The case remains under investigation by L.A. police.