Three Charged in July Murder, Robbery on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena Jurisdiction

Three men have been charged in connection with a July murder that occurred along Angeles Crest Highway in an area that is within Pasadena’s jurisdiction. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on Wednesday that Luis Ventura, 24, Marco Antonio Hernandez, 19 and Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez, 21 have been charged in connection with the robbery and murder of Jessie Enrique Munoz, 32,  and the robbery of his female companion.

Online court records show bail set at $2.15 million for Ventura and $2.1 million for Hernandez and Alvarenga Cortez.

“The heinous actions that led to the robbery and murder of Mr. Jessie Enrique Munoz is an appalling and reprehensible display of disregard for human life,” District Attorney George Gascón said. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Munoz’s family and friends who are coping with the pain of this senseless act, including his female companion who also was a victim of robbery at the time of this crime. We will work tirelessly to hold these three individuals accountable for their actions.”

The men are charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of murder in connection with the crime on July 22, around 3:50 a.m., when  Munoz was robbed and fatally shot at a scenic turnout. 

Munoz died at the scene. A female who was with Munoz was also robbed but unharmed.

Prosecutors also believe Alvarenga Cortez personally used a handgun during the crime.

Ventura pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Sept. 1. He is due back in court on Oct. 6 for a preliminary hearing. Hernandez and Cortez are scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 11.

In July, Pasadena police announced that six people had been arrested in connection to Munoz’s murder. Three were later charged but only with robbery. Three others were released. 

Ventura was held over from that arrest, but the other two suspects named on Wednesday were not charged in the robbery proceedings in July. It is not known if they were among the three men released.  

In July, Pasadena police said they believed the suspects they arrested were also likely connected to a double homicide that occurred in Rancho Palos Verdes just days after the Pasadena incident. 

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating that incident.  The three defendants named in Wednesday’s press release have only been charged with the Pasadena murder.   

During the press conference in July, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Gomez said the suspects are members of a Los Angeles criminal street gang that carries out robberies of people parked in scenic turnouts, noting that the victims were usually distracted when the attacks occurred. 

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626)- 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.