Torres murder suspect linked to 2003 killing
Information from witnesses creates link between two cases, police say
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

One Simi Valley homicide investigation became two last week as local police identified three men- one of whom is already awaiting trial for another murder- as the perpetrators of the 2003 shooting death of Simi resident Angel Luevano, 30.

Daniel Ramirez, 22, of Simi Valley; Luis Casillas, 32, of Chatsworth; and Mario Nitrini, 25, of Agoura Hills were all charged on April 26 with firstdegree murder by the Simi Valley Police, who said witnesses to the 2007 killing of Luis Torres were able to provide information that "ultimately linked the two cases together." The District Attorney's office has not yet decided what charges it will pursue against Nitrini, who is scheduled to be in court today.

Police officers found Torres, 18, shot in the chest in the area of Third Street and Ashland Avenue on Jan. 26. He was pronounced dead shortly after at Simi Valley Hospital.

At the time Simi police went to initiate their arrest warrants for the Luevano killing, both Ramirez and Nitrini were already incarcerated in Ventura County Main Jail- Ramirez awaiting trial for the Torres murder, Nitrini on unrelated charges. Casillas was picked up in the city of Ventura.

Senior Dep. A. Maeve Fox, speaking with the Acorn on Wednesday, said her office had already filed charges against Ramirez and Casillas and that both were scheduled to appear in court June 4.

While it's likely Ramirez's two cases will be consolidated into one, Casillas may have to be tried separately for his alleged part in the murder of Luevano, who was found Dec. 5, 2003, in a driveway on Ashland Avenue, dead from a single gunshot wound to the neck.

Initial information from witnesses described three suspects, a police report said, two male Hispanics and one while male, who fled in a beige-colored SUV.

Murder charges against both men include the special allegation that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a street gang, which could act as a "sentence enhancement" if either man is found guilty, Fox said.

Asked about the investigations, both of which are ongoing, Police Chief Mike Lewis praised Simi officers- especially Detective Jay Carrott- for working together across unit lines to solve the two cases.

"This really was an example of teamwork by four different units, but it was really championed by Detective Carrott," Lewis said. "We also got great support from the D.A.'s office. As we stepped forward they were giving us advice as to what they're going to need for a successful prosecution before an arrest was ever made."

Lewis said the fact that one suspect was linked to two cases makes his arrest even more gratifying to peace officers.

"My greatest pleasure in all of this is that we've got this individual off the streets," Lewis said.