> ## 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.

# Hearing in 2003 murder case bumped
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/hearing-in-2003-murder-case-bumped/
- Published: 2005-07-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:23:06.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Suspect charged in 2003 shooting of teen*

LAX COURTHOUSE — A preliminary hearing regarding the murder of a young Santa Monica man has been bumped a month so prosecutors may continue to organize their case.

Because the District Attorney’s office had yet to assign a deputy district attorney to the case, Judge Joseph Shiro Biderman agreed on Thursday to postpone the next court date for Matthew Felix Vargas, 18, charged by the Los Angeles DA’s Office on April 7 with the first-degree murder of Jalonnie Carter.

In addition to being charged with killing Carter, Vargas faces allegations that include one count of personal use of a firearm causing bodily injury, two counts of the intentional discharge of a firearm and one count of gang enhancement that contributed to the furtherance of gang activity.

Vargas, who pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being defended by a private attorney, was supposed to have a preliminary hearing on Thursday, at which time a judge may have determined if the case was worthy of a trial, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office confirmed the hearing had been re-scheduled for Aug. 10.

Vargas’ attorney, Sheldon L. Levitin, did not comment on the case.

Belinda Ramos, Vargas’ mother, showed up to Thursday’s proceeding at the Airport Courthouse along with 10 family members and friends. Ramos said her son is innocent and would not comment further.

Carter, 19 at the time of his death, was shot in the back with a.22-caliber gun in the 1800 block of 20th Street while he was walking through an alley on Sept. 2, 2003\. The bullet pierced his heart, and he died a few hours later at a local hospital.

Shortly after, police arrested a neighbor in connection with the murder, but the DA’s office dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.

Carter, who authorities said was known by friends and family as “Little Bear” and “Pooh Bear,” was described as a hard-working young man who was studying for a career in computers while working two jobs.

Vargas, who authorities say is also known as “Lil Rooster,” was arrested in April by Santa Monica police detectives at a juvenile detention facility in Sylmar, where he is serving time for an unknown crime.

Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. previously told the Daily Press that detectives have recovered the murder weapon, but declined to provide further information on what other evidence will be brought against Vargas.

Vargas, who lives in the Pico neighborhood, is said to be a member of the Santa Monica 17th Street Gang, according to Butts. The 17th Street Gang, comprised primarily of Latinos, is frequently at odds with another city gang, the Graveyard Crips, which is predominantly black. The Pico neighborhood is located on the eastside of Santa Monica.

Vargas has been described by family and friends as respectful and mild-mannered. Because he was a minor at the time of the initial arrest, authorities couldn’t discuss for what crime Vargas was being detained.

Ramos also declined to say of what her son was convicted, except to say he is innocent of the crime. Vargas has been at the juvenile detention center since December. Ramos did say previously that her son’s nickname, “Lil Rooster,” had to do with the natural red color of his hair, which his grandmother, a Hopi, also had.

Vargas, with long, dark, slicked-back hair, appeared in court in an orange L.A. County jail jump suit.

As he was escorted away in handcuffs by the bailiff, he turned around to look at his mother, who was teary-eyed.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 8, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070805.pdf?ref=smdp.com)