Sylmar veteran murder: Estrada pleads not guilty

SAN FERNANDO, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sylmar resident Vincent Estrada, accused of fatally shooting an Army veteran at a party this weekend, pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.

Estrada, 18, is accused of shooting Francisco Garcia in a dispute during a party near Dronfield Avenue and Astoria Street about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Estrada appeared in court Thursday to plead not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, with a special circumstance of gang affiliation added to the murder charge. He was held on $2.4 million bail.

According to the LAPD, Estrada got out of a vehicle and began yelling at Garcia during the incident Sunday morning, then allegedly grabbed a gun from another waiting vehicle and shot Garcia.

Police officers stopped Estrada as he was driving with his parents in Sylmar Tuesday afternoon. He was initially detained as a person of interest in the murder. Estrada was later arrested Tuesday night.

Estrada's family maintains that he is innocent.

"My brother is a very good kid," said Felicia Rodriguez, Estrada's sister. "He's innocent, and the truth is going to come out sooner or later."

"Our intention is to show that he is innocent, and we will clear his name," said attorney Arvand Naderi. "It's going to take time but we will clear his name."

Garcia's family was not in court during Thursday's arraignment.