A murder charge was added Wednesday to several charges already filed against one of three people accused of breaking into a South Bay Apple store.
Johnny Chenda, 25, and Melissa Ortiz, 21, were arrested in connection with an attempted burglary at an Apple Store at the Otay Ranch Towne Center just before 7 a.m. on April 4.
Alex Somphonh Choulamontry, 23, was shot and killed by Jose Jimenez, 58, an armed security guard, hired by Apple to protect its store.
Chenda was charged with six counts on April 6, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, attempted robbery and felony possession of a firearm.
On Wednesday, a murder charge was added and South Bay Judge Kathleen Lewis doubled Chenda's bail from $500,000 to $1 million.
Prosecutors decided not to file charges against Ortiz but would not give any further details.
Chenda could be facing more than 50 years in prison if convicted.
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Jimenez confronted Chenda and Choulamontry on April 4, according to police. He told police the shooting began when one of the suspects pointed a gun at him.
Investigators said the three suspects got into a silver Acura and crashed into a light pole and a post before stopping on a curb.
Choulamontry was shot and killed inside the car, police said. Officers searched the neighborhood surrounding the mall and found Chenda and Ortiz on a patio of a town home just east of the shopping center.
Apple store employees positively identified the suspects, according to Chula Vista police.
Jimenez, a retired law enforcement officer who works for Security Industry Specialists based in Culver City, was not injured.
Choulamontry was a documented gang member and on active California State parole, said Chula Vista Police Dept. spokesperson Bernard Gonzales.
“Choulamontry had convictions for theft, possession of controlled substances, driving under the influence and false identification to a peace officer,” said Gonzales.
Investigators are looking into whether the trio may have been involved in prior smash and grabs.
