Man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted murder, in San Diego gang-related conspiracy
Copyright Associated Press
and last updated 2020-12-14 16:56:44-05
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A young man accused in a series of San Diego-area gang-related killings and attempted slayings pleaded not guilty Monday to murder, attempted murder and conspiracy charges.
Ismael Betancourt, 20, is charged in the Aug. 1, 2019, shooting death of 57-year-old Marco Magana in Mountain View, the Feb. 8 shooting death of 19-year-old Leah Posey in Southcrest, and two attempted murders that allegedly occurred on July 24, 2019 and Feb. 8.
San Diego police announced Betancourt's arrest last month in connection with the April 8, 2018, shooting death of 55-year-old Lowry Rivers in National City, which occurred when Betancourt was 17. Rivers' killing is not listed in the latest complaint, and it's unclear whether Betancourt is being tried in juvenile court regarding that crime or whether additional charges are pending in his current case.