Suspects in Arizona Teen’s Shooting Plead Not Guilty in Another Case

Two men under investigation in connection with a La Mesa robbery in which a 16-year-old Arizona tourist was shot in the head pleaded not guilty Friday to unrelated robbery, weapons and drug charges.  

Deputy District Attorney Christine Israel told Judge David Szumowski in San Diego Superior Court that on June 7, Alvaro Regalado confronted a rival at a trolley station, pulled a gun, then fled onto a nearby school campus.   

Israel said Regalado, 19, issued a gang challenge to a man picking up his daughter, then pulled a weapon and ordered the man out of his car.   

Regalado drove off in the car and later ditched it, the prosecutor said.   

Police investigating a series of shotgun-style robberies traced an SUV to Regalado’s home, and he was identified as the suspect who carjacked the man at the school, Israel said.   

A second suspect—20-year-old Juan Arriero, who authorities tied to Regalado—was seen loading marijuana into a duffel bag and vehicle, the prosecutor said.   

Regalado later admitted involvement in the carjacking, Israel said.

Each defendant was ordered held on $300,000 bail, pending a possible arraignment Tuesday on attempted murder and robbery charges in connection with the Monday morning shooting of Zach Lamb in La Mesa and other armed robberies, Israel said.

City News Service contributed to this report.