> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # DA tosses out murder case against SM man - URL: https://www.smdp.com/da-tosses-out-murder-case-against-sm-man/ - Published: 2003-09-10T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T02:52:22.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Mother of the accused says her son is innocent* The District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday rejected the murder case against a Santa Monica man arrested in connection with last week’s killing of a 19-year-old, saying there’s not enough evidence for a conviction. Arthur Archuletta, 21, was arrested for murder on Friday by Santa Monica Police, who accuse him of fatally shooting Jalonnie Carter on Sept. 2 in an alley east of 20th Street. But police are confident evidence currently being analyzed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff will link Archuletta with the homicide, which was the first this year in Santa Monica. “There’s insufficient evidence to proceed at this time,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega, adding detectives had enough probable cause to arrest Archuletta. “We are waiting for the evidence to come back from the crime lab.” Fabrega wouldn’t speculate how long it would be before the evidence is released by the lab. Meanwhile, Archuletta remains in custody at a Los Angeles County Jail on a parole violation relating to the homicide investigation. However, Fabrega couldn’t confirm what evidence detectives found prior to Archuletta’s arrest that warranted the parole violation. Archuletta is on parole for a narcotics offense and it’s up to a parole officer to decide how long he stays in jail. That will be determined in a hearing with law enforcement personnel and Archuletta’s parole officer. “He can sit in jail as long as the parole officer wants,” Fabrega said. “The bottom line is that part of your parole condition is that you have to submit to searches.” Archuletta lives with his mother, Terry Archuletta, on Michigan Avenue, just two blocks away from where the shooting occurred and three blocks from Carter’s apartment on 20th Street. Carter was shot in the back by a.22-caliber bullet that struck his heart, family members say. He died more than an hour later at a local hospital. Terry Archuletta told the Daily Press her son has been wrongly accused by police. “There never was any evidence. They have no evidence whatsoever, I’ve always known that,” she said Tuesday. “They’re keeping him, they’re holding him and, like I told you before, my son is innocent. That’s the truth. And now all of our lives are in danger and I’m afraid of retaliation. I fear for my son’s life and my family’s lives. I’m living in fear.” > “They’re keeping him, they’re holding him and, like I told you before, my son is innocent. That’s the truth.” — —TERRY ARCHULETTA Mother of suspect Archuletta, a Latino, went to Olympic High School with Carter, who is black. The two were reportedly friends at one time. Olympic High School Principal Suzanne Toyryla said both of them were good kids. Carter graduated in June of 2002 and Archuletta had enrolled a couple of times at the alternative school but didn’t graduate. He was in the process of enrolling in the adult school next door this fall, Toyryla said. She added that she especially remembers Carter’s cheerful disposition. “He was a nice, nice young man,” Toyryla said. “He had a twinkle in his eye when he smiled and he was very happy... We are all very sad.” While Carter’s family mourn their loss, they want the suspect or suspects brought to justice. Carter’s stepbrother, Larry Kennedy, 30, who lives in Virginia and was at the family’s home on Tuesday, isn’t sure who’s guilty but wants the punishment to be swift and just. “If he’s the guy that did it, that killed my brother, then I want justice to be served,” he said. “But if they haven’t got any evidence and it can’t be proved then I don’t want an innocent man to be punished for a crime he didn’t commit. “No matter what the situation is my brother won’t be brought back,” he added. “I don’t want another family going through what we’re going through.” Police are looking for additional suspects in the killing and the investigation is ongoing, Fabrega said. Terry Archuletta said her son has been targeted because of his criminal history. “There was no violation, he did nothing. He’s an easy target because he’s a parolee, it’s that simple,” she said. “I’m an honest person. I’m a very religious person. I don’t lie.” Carter’s mother, Shirley Joseph and his stepfather Larry Joseph, have arranged for their son’s funeral to be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Church of Christ, located at 15th Street and Michigan Avenue. Carter’s body will then be buried at the adjacent Woodlawn Cemetery. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 10, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)