Murder suspects plead not guilty in arraignment


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Two suspects, Bryan Barnes and Javier Bolden, were charged with the murder of two USC students, as well as various other charges. They pleaded not guilty at their arraignment on Thursday.

Ming Qu and Ying Wu, two 23-year-old international students at USC who were one month away from graduating, were shot on April 11, 2012 while sitting in a BMW on the 2700 block of Raymond Avenue south of Adams Boulevard during a botched robbery attempt.

Qu was found dead on the porch of a house, when he tried to get help after being shot, and Wu was found dead in the passenger seat of the car. The incident occurred around 1 a.m.

Barnes, 20, and Bolden, 19, were charged with the murders of the two graduate students. According to reports, the suspects were part of a crime spree that culminated in the shooting. They are also accused of the premeditated murder of Tim Hall and allegedly tried to kill two other people, Zanae Flowers and Deionce Davance, previously. In total, the two are charged with nine felonies.

Last month, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence in the case to proceed and ordered the defendants to stand trial. Prosecutors will decide later whether or not to seek the death penalty.

Barnes and Bolden are due back at court on Jan. 23 for a pretrial hearing.