2 Suspects in Deadly Shooting Outside Pasadena Taco Shop Deny Charges

Two men suspected in the killing of an Azusa man in a shooting outside a Pasadena taco shop in March pleaded not guilty to criminal charges on Tuesday, officials said.

Evan Roland Bynum, 26, of Los Angeles, and Dante Dejuan Ward, 33, of Irvine, each denied charges of murder and attempted murder steming from the shooting, which took place just before 9 p.m. on March 13 in a parking lot outside a strip mall at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Altadena Drive, according to Pasadena police and Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner officials.

They were scheduled to return to the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 21 for another hearing in their case, court officials said.

Bernardo Cortez Velasco, 23, of Azusa was seated in a parked car with a 19-year-old Duarte woman when they came under fire, police said at the time.

Paramedics took Velasco to a hospital in critical condition. He succumbed to his wounds the following morning.

The woman in the car was struck by flying glass during the shooting but suffered no major injuries, officials said.

Detetives identified Bynum and Ward as suspects in the killing and arrested them while carrying out search warrants on April 2, Pasadena police officials said.

According to Los Angeles County booking records, bail for Bynum was set at $4 million, while Ward was being held in lieu of $3.1 million bail.

Anyone with information was urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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