Arraignment Postponed Again For Man Accused In Palm Desert Slayings

Arraignment was postponed for a second time Friday for a man accused of in a shooting that killed a 24-year-old man and his 2-year-old daughter and wounded the child's grandmother.

Juan Carlos Alcala, 42, of Palm Desert faces two counts of first degree murder and a count of attempted murder in the April 8 deaths of Felipe Lozano and his daughter, Doria Lozano-Reynoso. Afra Lozano, the girl's grandmother, was shot twice in the leg.

If convicted of the special circumstance allegation, he could face the death penalty. Prosecutors will make a decision on whether to pursue capital punishment within the next three months, according to Deputy District Attorney Otis Sterling.

Alcala appeared in court for the second time this week on Friday. He was appointed a lawyer from the Capital Defense Team in Riverside.

His arraignment, however, was postponed until April 22 at the request of the defense.

The shooting at the Hovely Gardens condominiums in Palm Desert appears to have been unprovoked, according to investigators.

The day before the shooting, Alcala allegedly threatened to kill Felipe Lozano over a dispute involving the victim's truck, according to family members.

Alcala allegedly opened fire on Lozano and his daughter as they were returning from the park. Lozano died protecting his daughter, according to his brother, Fabian Lozano.

The defendant is being held without bail at the Indio Jail.