After months of delays, the two brothers charged in the car-to-car shooting in Palmdale, which led to the death of a 7-year-old girl, were finally arraigned Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Jesus Alberto Peralta, 22, and Carlos Peralta, 20, pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and three counts of attempted murder. The criminal case also includes gun and gang allegations.
The charges stem from a Sept. 4 gang-related incident in Palmdale that led to the death of 7-year-old Desirae Macias.
The incident occurred just before 1 a.m., and started out at the gas station at Fort Tejon Road and Pearblossom Highway(“Four Points”), according to sheriff’s detectives. The brothers allegedly issued a gang challenge to a male victim, and after a brief confrontation, the victim left the scene with his girlfriend and her two children, according to prosecutors.
The Peralta brothers got in a car and chased the family’s vehicle through a residential neighborhood, while firing several rounds at the family’s vehicle, according to prosecutors. Some time during the chase, Macias was shot in the head. She died later at a local hospital.
After pleading not guilty in an Antelope Valley courtroom Tuesday, Jesus and Carlos Peralta were each ordered back to custody on $8 million bail.
They are due back in court on Thursday, Feb. 13 for a preliminary hearing, where a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
If convicted as charged, the Peralta brothers each face a maximum prison sentence of 185 years to life.
Previous related stories:
Arraignment postponed for brothers charged with murdering 7-year-old
Jud says
Whoever is saying these guys came from a good home and are educated is telling stories outside of church. These two are dumber than a bag of hammers and most likely come from a typical poor Hispanic family where the mom spoils the boys and the dad is a total jerk.
Nancy P says
Sure this Mother “had the right” to be out with HER kids in the middle of the night. However, how many of you would really take your young children into the line of fire . Her boyfriend (the driver) should have gone to the store alone. Kids should not be dragged around in the middle of the night to places known for violence. The boyfriend and Mother are not new to the game. They know the neighborhood.
Mr. Mister says
Ignorant. Simply ignorant. 4 Points is now South Central? Secondly, to place blame on anyone but the gun wielders is wildly outlandish to say the least. I guess if I’m driving and a drunk driver plows me, it’s my fault for being on the road, right? Must be a die-hard ‘the 2nd Amendment was sent from the heavens above’ person. I guess they were just exercising their Constitutional right and the aggressors (victims actually) were wrong for going to the gas station whilst they didn’t exercise theirs’…
Nancy P says
yeah, let’s compare apples to airplanes.
Mr. Mister says
Only following in your footsteps of logic…
lee says
first of all regardless if they came from a good family went to college doesnt excuse the fact that they killed a innocent little girl ! so whoever made that excuse for them your idiots and tha fact that your saying we dont know nothing about them youre right we dont only that they cared about themselves and had no respect for other human life !!!! they need to rott in jail
Lisa says
First of all this two man come from good respectful families. The two Peralta brothers worked and went to college. Yes how everything went down was wrong, what the hell was the mother doing out so late with her children? Why would you be so ignorant and give your opinion of something you know nothing off.
Joe says
I’ve had my children out with me after coming home late from a family function so how does that make it the mothers faults? As a parent I have the right to drive down a road at 9 in the morning or 12 at night and not get chased and fired at, the mother didn’t put the gun in their hands or make them shot and sorry but having a job and going to school doesn’t mean you can’t murder.
ivonne0731@yahoo.com says
I totally agree %10000000
omg says
Wtf the only ignorant one here is you lisa! They have a right to be out with there child!!! That does not excuse what those low lives did!! It’s obvious they were up to no good if they needed to carry a gun!!! Give me a break and just shut the hell up u sound stupid!!!!
ivonne says
I totally agree %10000000
Julia says
U are soooo stupid Lisa!!!! Omg!! Listen to yourself… If this happened to maybe your sister n kid would you be saying the same thing. U are ignorant!! And no one should be shot at ever. No matter what time it is. They maybe be people you know but they did wrong n no matter good family bad family. College no college they are bad! And are paying for this!!!
Diana says
Well first of all just because they come from a respectfull families and they work and go to college does not justify what they did. Second of all does it really matter why they were out so late?? I dont think so the question should really be why the f*** would they have a gun on them?? And what gives them the right to chase someone and shoot at them ?? Ending with killing an inocent child that had nothing to do with any of this >:( i really hope they get the punishment they deserve no family should ever have to go thru something like this just because of some dumb idiots who think they own the world smhh
ivonne says
I totally agree %100000000
Danny says
Wow Lisa your so full of it their worthless scum! Same with the other guy all scum no better than a dirty dog! Good family’s ya right dirt scum cockroaches…..
single mom says
It doesn’t matter what kind of family they came from or if they have a degree, they committed a crime and took the life of a child so don’t sugar coat their actions! And it’s none of your business or anyone else if the mother and father went out with their kids atnight they didn’t kill their daughter those monsters did. I as a single mother have my children everywhere I go and if I have to make a midnight run anywhere and don’t have a sitter guess what they go with me, so stop making excuses for these animals, that is the reason they are the way they are because mom and dad let them get away with everything. Carry and conceal people and train yourself properly because bad things like this happen to good people.
Leena says
If they went to college and come from good homes then they are even guiltier because it means the do know right from wrong. Shooting at kids is wrong no matter what. PERIOD..If the are such great guys why were they driving around with guns at all. especially that time of night???
rini says
I LIVE IN THE AREA WHERE DESIRAE LIVED WITH HER FAMILY.EVERYTIME I LEAVE MY HOUSE I PASS BY HER MEMORIAL.OMG ITS,HORRIBLE.ITS HARD TO EVEN LOOK AT IT.MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE TO THE FAMILY.I PREY TIME WILL HEAL YOUR BROKEN HEARTS.AS FOR THE COWARDS RESPONSIBLE.I HOPE THEY SPEND THE REST OF THEIR WORTHLESS LIVES IN JAIL AND CONSTANTLY LOOKING OVER THIER SHOULDERS.THEY KNEW IT WAS KIDS IN THE CAR.IT PISSES,ME OFF.SOMETHING ILL NEVER FORGET..R.I.P.BABYGIRL
Iwonder says
Sometimes I think people like this are a product of what society has become. These 2 probably grew up surrounded by people just like they are now, gang bangers who taught them how cool it is to be respected and be a bad a** and be in a gang.
I live in a bad area of Palmdale and a 4 year old kid walked up to me as I was returning home and said he would jack me for the bag of cat food I was carrying, kill me and throw my corpse in the dumpster. I felt sorry for him and pondered if his future was already decided by those he has encountered in his childhood, and what chance he has of overcoming those obstacles in life.
I wish parents would stop having kids by accident, or for more welfare money. Because many of those kids become society’s burden, or society’s killers.
Irena says
I agree that a small child may only be copying the actions of older people, but at some point a person needs to take responsibility for their actions.
Nancy P says
I agree that they are becoming the norm instead of the exception.
Those parents who have kids out all night tagging and robbing need to get a grip on their kids. This is going to happen more and more because parents don’t want to accept the fact their kids are doing crazy stuff after mom goes to bed.
Mom would rather call her neighbor a “nosey beotch” than accept that her young son is out front buying a car out of the trunk of a car, or loading the trunk of some hoopty with backpacks full of paint cans. Mom doesn’t want to know that her son is getting home about the time she leaves to take the little brother to kindergarten. Mom doesn’t want to know that her young son sits in her car smoking a pipe from under the backseat. Hopefully she won’t get stopped and have a car search.
These kids are the way they are because their parents excuse every thing they do and discount anyone who tries to help them get their kid on a better path.
Just a mom says
I so agree. I came from a bad neighborhood in the valley as I grew up. I have 3 kids 20 16 and 9. I am so happy I moved away from that area long time ago. Us as parents need to lead by example. It is sad for these kids. No education no parental love and no discipline. Honestly I have zero tolerance for those kid of behavior. I really feel so bad for the family who lost their little girl. But my question is why would you exchange words with gang members who don’t care about you and your family. Why prove a point . I believe he should have walked away and been the better man and that little girl would still be alive.
Nancy P says
100% and I meant to say, he was buying a gun from the back of a car. Police were called, but they came to my house instead of the kids.
$$$ Saving Suggestion says
Death penalty is too good for them… they should be crucified…. seriously….
Jim says
May Desirae Macias Rest in Peace and may Jesus and Carlos Peralta never have a day of peace during the rest of their lives. While they can argue they never meant to kill a child, they certainly meant to kill someone. Accolades to the police who arrested these two quickly.
no mercy says
give them the [removed] chair! fry them they don’t deserve to be breathing. show no mercy on these cowards. they killed that poor little girl over a good for nothing street gang. they know the risk’s of being in a gang be killed or incarcerated over there actions. that third punk that was released was probably the shooter or driver. lucky f***** got away from being in the same boat as these two cowards.
orPerhaps says
Or maybe the 3rd guy was sitting in the car when the altercation first happened and had no part in the driving or shooting… and will now testify for the prosecution.