2 brothers killed as they sat in car outside LA home; suspect charged

Prosecutors on Monday filed murder charges against a 33-year-old man who allegedly shot two brothers near Exposition Park earlier this month.

Marcos Navarro has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Sergio and Ricardo Rios, 33 and 19. The two were attacked on June 1 as they sat in their car outside their home, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said at a press conference on Monday.

Gascón did not provide any details about the motive for the fatal attack, saying only that the brothers left their house and had a brief conversation with the suspect, after which he armed himself with a 9 mm automatic weapon and opened fire.

Ivan Robles, a cousin of the victims, also spoke at the press conference and spoke of a “broken system that endangers innocent people.”

“This is not a black and brown issue or a gang issue, this is a gun and mental health issue across this country and the failure of our government to take action to protect our innocent lives,” he said. “I hope none of you have to experience what my family is going through right now, watching your children being slaughtered in broad daylight.”

He remembered his older cousin as a father of two who “brightened up every room he walked into with joy.” He said his younger cousin, whom he called Ricky, “had his whole life ahead of him.”

Navarro is being held on $5 million bail and faces up to life in prison if convicted. His arraignment is scheduled for next month.

The older brother died at the scene of the accident and the younger one in hospital, police said at the time.