A reputed Los Angeles County gang member accused of gunning down a 45-year-old man in front of a Desert Hot Springs supermarket pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge.
Anthony Raymond Magdaleno, who is known by the moniker "Little Crow," is charged in the Oct. 10 death of 45-year-old Chi-Lu "Tony" Chen at the Vons store on Palm Drive.
His arraignment was delayed for several days because of a medical quarantine at the Indio Jail, which expired today, said Deputy District Attorney Lisa DiMaria.
Riverside County jailers have been quarantining prisoners with flu-like symptoms in attempt to keep the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu from spreading through the inmate population.
The defendant, who was arraigned by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Graham Cribbs, is being held without bail.
Magdaleno, a self-admitted member of the gang Varrio Hawaiian Gardens in Los Angeles County, was arrested Oct. 21.
A witness told police that the victim was confronted in front of the store by the shooter, according to a declaration in support of an arrest warrant.
The witness said Chen and the suspect spoke for less than a minute before the gunman shot him in the head, according to Desert Hot Springs police Sgt. Dan Bressler, who prepared the document.
Police have not determined a motive for the slaying.
Magdaleno was identified as the alleged shooter by several witnesses who said they came into contact with him as he fled.
Chen had recently moved to the Coachella Valley to work in sales and marketing at the Agua Caliente Hotel on Palm Drive, which is across the street from the supermarket.
