SHERMAN OAKS—A suspect responsible for attacking several women at a nail salon in Sherman Oaks was charged in court on Monday, February 5, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Karb indicated Gustavo Aranda, 25, of Chatsworth pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of carjacking, second-degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, a chair, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and vandalism over $400. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of simple battery.
On January 31, Aranda carjacked a man after the victim exited his vehicle at 8:25 a.m. The suspect approached the victim from behind and shouted obscenities at the victim, prompting the victim to run away. Aranda chased the victim and hit him repeatedly causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect forcefully removed the victim’s vehicle keys from his pocket and fled in the victim’s vehicle, a 2007 gray Toyota 4 Runner.
He later attacked a second victim and robbed him. At around 10 a.m. Aranda entered a nail salon near the 13600 block of Burbank Blvd. and began hitting three women inside for no reason. Several Good Samaritans assisted to halt Aranda from attacking the woman and detained him until authorities arrived on the scene. If convicted as charged, he could face up to 12 years in prison.
The defendant is expected to return to court on Friday, February 16 in Department 122 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys Branch. The case is still under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Van Nuys Station.
