2 Men, Woman Plead Not Guilty in Death of Restaurant Owner
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VAN NUYS — Two men and a woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that they killed the owner of a Denny’s restaurant during a robbery, even after the man complied with their demands for money.
Ruben Lopez, 20, Samuel Martinez, 18, and Griselda Salazar, 18, entered their pleas in Van Nuys Municipal Court. Prosecutors say Lopez shot 38-year-old Cyrus Salehi during the robbery at the Reseda restaurant Feb. 3.
Detectives said Lopez, an alleged gang member, told them he shot Salehi because he “flipped out.” Lopez then took $400 in receipts and ran to a car in the parking lot where Martinez, Salazar and a 16-year-old girl waited, police said. The girl has not been charged in the killing.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 26.
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