Suspected gang member charged with killing USC student during attempted robbery: DA
LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - A suspected gang member was charged Tuesday with killing a University of Southern California student, who was the son of an Oakland City Council member, during an attempted robbery in March, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.
Ivan Hernandez, 23, was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegations of murder during the course of an attempted robbery and murder while he is an active participant in a criminal street gang, making him eligible for the death penalty. He also faces one count of attempted robbery.
Related: USC student fatally shot in apparent robbery attempt near campus
Hernandez is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.
On March 10, Hernandez is accused of fatally shooting Victor McElhaney, 21, about a mile from the USC campus. Hernandez was allegedly trying to rob the victim and a group of his friends, the prosecutor said.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.
McElhaney was a student at USC's Thornton School of Music and son of Oakland City Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney.
"It is with the utmost sadness that I share with you the tragic news that my son, Victor McElhaney, was slain last night in a senseless act of violence,'' the councilwoman said back in March. "I miss my baby. Please keep me, my family and all of my son's friends in your thoughts and prayers. We are beginning a new chapter in this reoccurring circle of violence and it will take all of us together to make it through this tragedy.''
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division.