Northridge shooting victims identified as suspects await extradition

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The names of the four people found shot to death outside a Northridge home early Sunday were released Thursday by authorities.

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials identified the victims as Amanda Ghossein, 24, of Monterey Park; Jennifer Kim, 26, of Montebello; Robert Calabia, 34, of Los Angeles; and Teofilo Navales, 49, of Castaic. Coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter said Los Angeles police had placed a security hold on any additional information about the deaths.

Also Thursday, four suspects in the slayings were awaiting an extradition hearing in Las Vegas, where they were arrested without incident Monday afternoon. Authorities tracked the group to the Silverton Hotel and Casino, and said they checked into the hotel Sunday evening after fleeing Los Angeles.

PHOTOS: Four killed in Northridge shooting

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced the arrests Tuesday, identifying the suspects as Ka Pasasouk, 31, of Los Angeles; Howard Alcantara, 30, of Glendale; Donna Rabulan, 30, of Los Angeles; and Christina Neal, 33, of Los Angeles.

Pasasouk was arrested on suspicion of murder, Beck said. The three others faced charges of aiding a felon; Alcantara faced an additional charge of robbery.

Court records show Pasasouk has an extensive criminal record and was on probation at the time of the killings. He has several convictions dating back to at least 2004 and most recently pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine in 2011. Officers went to the home in the 17400 block of Devonshire Street in Northridge about 4:25 a.m. Sunday after a 911 caller reported hearing yelling and shots fired, police said. Authorities found four people — two men and two women — shot dead outside.

Three of the victims — a man and two women — were shot on the walkway on the left side of the home, a source familiar with the case told The Times. They were wearing hooded sweat shirts and were about two feet apart. All three had at least one bullet wound to the head. One victim was crumpled on her knees, the source said, her face buried in the palms of her hands, ‘almost like she was praying.’ The other two victims on the walkway were face-down.

The fourth victim — a man — was farther away and appeared as if he was trying to run to the backyard when he was shot. He had at least one gunshot wound, according to the source.

‘It looked like a quick kill,’ said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.

Law enforcement sources told The Times the killings appeared to stem from a dispute over personal property, including a computer. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing, said detectives were surprised the dispute led to multiple deaths.

ALSO:

Stinky whale carcass in Malibu may be towed to sea

Occupy’s unintended legacy: more restrictions on protests

Man accused of attacking grandmother, setting her duplex on fire — Kate Mather and Andrew Blankstein