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Suspected Serial Shooter Appears In Court; Arraignment Postponed Until September

SAN FERNANDO (CBSLA.com) — A Sylmar man suspected in the Sunday morning killings of three people in the San Fernando Valley appeared in court Wednesday on murder and attempted murder charges in separate shootings in the Pacoima area and West Hollywood.

"Yes," were the only words spoken by Alexander Hernandez, 34, who made a brief court appearance Wednesday, in response to whether he agreed to waive the proceedings. Cameras were allowed in the courtroom, but Judge Michael O'Gara barred journalists from capturing his image.

Hernandez has been charged with murdering Gildardo Morales, 48, who was shot last Thursday while driving his pickup truck to work in the Pacoima area, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. His arraignment was postponed until Sept. 17 and moved the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles.

Hernandez will remain jailed without bail.

The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder during a drive-by shooting. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Hernandez.

Hernandez has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing on a couple who were in their vehicle in West Hollywood Friday and three counts of animal cruelty for allegedly shooting three dogs at a house in Pacoima, killing two and injuring the third, on Saturday. He also faces two counts of discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and one count each of shooting at an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition.

Hernandez remains a suspect in the fatal shooting spree Sunday morning that killed three people within an hour of each other. Coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said a "security hold" remained in effect on the case, preventing his office from releasing the names of the dead, but family members identified two of the women who were killed – 59-year-old Gloria Tovar and 22-year-old Mariana Franco, who used a wheelchair. A third person, a man in his 20s or 30s who was collecting recyclables, was also killed.

Hernandez was arrested Sunday night after an hour-long standoff with police at a home in the area of Polk Street and Kismet Avenue in Sylmar. Leads gathered by investigators, including the description of the vehicle believed to have been used in the shootings, led police to the home where Hernandez hid.

Deputy Police Chief Kirk Albanese said investigators believe Hernandez was responsible for seven separate shootings beginning Aug. 20, when a 42-year-old woman was shot while driving in the Atwater Village area. The shootings were apparently random and there was no known motive or link between the victims.

Albanese said all seven shootings, including the three for which Hernandez was charged Tuesday, were all carried out by a single suspect in an SUV with a shotgun. He said that when Hernandez was arrested Sunday night, he had a pistol-grip shotgun in his possession.

He said charges stemming from Sunday's slayings would be filed soon.

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(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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