A California teenager is facing multiple charges, including murder, after he allegedly shot four people during a burglary and set the house on fire.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges against 19-year-old Miguel Diego Sandoval on Tuesday. Sandoval is facing four counts of murder, one felony count of first-degree residential burglary with a person present and one felony count of arson of an inhabited structure or property.
Sandoval is accused of burglarizing a residence in Lancaster at around 1:30 a.m. on November 16. The district attorney's office said Sandoval then shot 24-year-old Edwin Garcia, 23-year-old Matthew Montebello, 29-year-old Christine Aca-ac and 24-year-old Janvi Maquindang.
Aca-ac and Maquindang were siblings. Garcia was Aca-ac's fiancé and Montebello was Maquindang's partner, according to a GoFundMe for Aca-ac and Maquindang. Three dogs were also found dead, the fundraiser said.
Sandoval allegedly set the house on fire "to cover up the crimes," the district attorney's office said. Garcia, Aca-ac, and Maquindang were pronounced dead at the scene. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies rescued Montebello, but he later died from his injuries at a hospital.
Another victim present at the time of the incident was uninjured.
Sandoval appeared in court on Tuesday shirtless, according to photos obtained by The Daily Mail. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office website tells court attendees not to wear "shorts, tank tops, clothing that shows your stomach, beachwear, flip-flops or clothing with inappropriate words or signs."
Sandoval's arraignment is scheduled for January 27. He is being held without bail and faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Maria Montebello, Matthew Montebello's mother, told KABC that Sandoval was the ex-boyfriend of one of the people who lived at the house.
"The loss is overwhelming, and the pain of their absence is something we are struggling to bear every day," siblings Jasmine Maquindang, Kyle Maquindang and Kyleen Maquindang wrote on the GoFundMe, which has raised over $27,000 so far.
They describe Aca-ac as "a loving sister and a funny, vibrant, and deeply caring friend."
"She was loved by many for her infectious laughter, generosity, and ability to make everyone feel welcome," the siblings said. "She lit up any room she entered and always knew how to make others smile, even on the toughest days. Christine was a source of strength for everyone around her, especially for our younger siblings. She was devoted to raising her younger siblings in a loving, stable home."
They said Janvi was "a bright and successful young man with a future full of promise."
"He graduated as a valedictorian of his high school class and was already making his mark on the world," the siblings said. "Janvi was an incredible listener, always there when someone needed to talk things through. His kindness, intelligence, and sense of humor left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. To his younger siblings, Janvi was a special soul, someone they looked up to and could count on."
A GoFundMe for Matthew Montebello has raised over $9,500.
"While I myself always wanted to be a role model to him and for him to look up to me, many times I've found myself looking up to him both literally (he was taller than me) and figuratively," brother Andrew Montebello said on the fundraiser.
Garcia's family has also set up a GoFundMe, which has raised over $6,000. His mother, Yemi Olivares, said he was "a gentle soul."
"He was a pillar of joy and happiness at every gathering and at every moment of our lives. He had great aspirations to pursue a career as [an] educator both in academics and music," Olivares said.
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