Man pleads not guilty to murder charges stemming from suspected Halloween DUI crash that killed 3
A 20-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder charges stemming from a suspected DUI crash on Halloween night that killed a Long Beach family of three.
Carlo Adrian Navarro, who faces three counts each of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, kept his head and eyes down for most of the hearing in the crowded courtroom, as family members of the victims and defendant looked on.
He quietly answered “Yes, your Honor,” to questions posed by a judge verifying his name and date of birth. He then entered the plea through his defense attorney, Bryan Schroeder.
Navarro also pleaded not guilty to burglary and vandalism charges in a separate case involving a June 30 arrest.
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Navarro was accused of driving drunk when he failed to negotiate a turn at Country Club Lane and Los Cerritos Park Drive about 10 p.m., Oct. 31, police said. His SUV hopped onto the curb before striking 30-year-old Joseph Awaida, 32-year-old Raihan Dakhil and their 3-year-old son, Omar, as the family was walking on the sidewalk near their Bixby Knolls condo.
Joseph Awaida died the night of the crash.
Omar Awaida died Nov. 2, and Dakhil died the following day.
Navarro was arrested the night of the crash on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, but was released the following day after posting $100,000 bail.
He was arrested again on Nov. 5 after Long Beach city prosecutors obtained a $500,000 arrest warrant to have him jailed on the burglary and vandalism charges.
Members of both the suspect’s and victims family were in attendance Wednesday, with Navarro’s family members seated a row behind the Awaida family. They sat in silence after a bailiff explained that outbursts could get them removed from the courtroom prior to the hearing.
Vera Awaida, Joseph Awaida’s mother, began weeping as Navarro was brought out to the holding area and into view of the crowd in attendance.
The family was well known in the Long Beach community and beloved by many.
After their deaths, folks had raised nearly half a million dollars in crowdsourcing campaigns to help the families cover funeral and medical expenses.
Joseph Awaida and Dakhil were recent Cal State Long Beach graduates and their son Omar attended the daycare there.
Joseph worked at his family-owned business, Joe’s Auto Center, and Dakhil was working as an intern at the Long Beach school district.
Joseph Awaida’s aunt, Cecilia Ramos, spent Halloween night with the family and said the three were walking home from her home to theirs when the crash happened.
She heard sirens nearby, unknowing that it was her family who had been struck until later that night.
Navarro attempted to render aid following the collision, Schroeder said after the hearing Wednesday. At the hospital, he was more concerned about the family’s well-being than his own, the lawyer said.
“He and his family feel terrible about what happened,” Schroeder said. “He’s far more concerned with that family than he was for himself.
“This is a terrible thing, it’s a tragedy,” he continued, “but if it’s possible to respond to it with integrity, he did that.”
Navarro’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.11 three hours after the crash, Schroeder said.
During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Karen Brako said a member of Navarro’s family attempted to contact the Awaida family before telling Judge Thomas Ong that the family wishes no contact whatsoever from the defense or the defense’s family.
Ong honored the request and ordered no contact in any way.
Navarro was scheduled to make an appearance on the burglary and vandalism charges Nov. 7, but was allowed to stay out of view of the courtroom while a public defender appeared in his place.
His bail on that case was reduced to $10,000, but Judge Thomas Ong ordered him to remain held on no bail in the murder case.
Navarro’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 16.