A 19-year-old man who allegedly stole a pickup truck and crashed it into a vehicle in Gardena, killing a woman, is facing murder and other felony charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Isaiah Lono — also known as Isaiah Portillo — pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count each of murder, fleeing from the scene of a fatal collision and grand theft of a vehicle — a 2018 Dodge Ram 3500.
He’s additionally charged with three misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving resulting in property damage and one misdemeanor count of driving when the privilege was suspended or revoked, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The Hawthorne resident allegedly stole the truck from outside an auto shop and quickly crashed the Dodge into several vehicles last Saturday while speeding away, according to Deputy District Attorney Katharine Yaske.
Lono then allegedly then ran a red light and crashed the truck into a vehicle driven by the fatally injured victim, Angelica Gonzalez, 30, near Redondo Beach Boulevard and Vermont Avenue in Gardena, the prosecutor said.
Lono allegedly tried to flee from the scene, but was surrounded by good Samaritans until police arrived, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He is jailed in lieu of $2 million bail and could face a potential state prison sentence of more than 18 years to life if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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