Gang Member Charged in Toddler Murder Faces 305 Years

The man arrested in the shooting death of 3-year-old Nylah Franco-Torrez could face 305 years to life in prison based on charges filed by prosecutors Thursday.

Brandon Taray Barnes, 19, of San Bernardino was arrested by San Bernardino police Wednesday night after gang officers spotted him riding a bicycle near where the shooting occurred.

“He will never come out to harm another citizen of this community,” San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos said at a news conference at the San Bernardino Police Department.

Barnes, a suspected gang member, could be arraigned on one count of murder and seven counts of attempted murder as early as today.

Police said they identified Barnes as the suspect within 24 hours of Monday’s shooting. Officers saw him at the corner of Base Line and Mayfield Avenue at 5:09 p.m. Wednesday.

They caught him in the 1100 block of North D Street after a foot chase.

Barnes was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and held without bail.

Nylah, 21-year-old La-Donna Howie and Howie’s 4-year-old daughter, Justine, were in front of their home in the 1300 block of North D Street at 7:40 p.m. Monday when a gunman opened fire. Police said more than a dozen rounds were fired.

Bullets struck the children in the head, and Howie in the neck and jaw. Howie and her daughter survived the attack, but the child was in extremely critical condition.

Patricia Prendergast, Nylah’s aunt, said Justine was placed into a medically induced coma Wednesday because doctors anticipated her head would start swelling from the wound. She showed promising signs before then.

“I know at one point she opened her eyes and moved around a little bit,” Prendergast said.

Relatives said Howie could be released from the hospital as early as today. They also said Howie didn’t realize the severity of her daughter’s wound until Wednesday night and that she didn’t know Nylah had died.

“She doesn’t remember what happened,” Prendergast said.

Police said the gunman opened fire on the house because he was retaliating against a man who stopped him from hitting a woman in the neighborhood earlier that day. Police have identified and interviewed the woman from that earlier attack.

Residents on D Street suspected the man police were chasing Wednesday night might be the suspected gunman, but didn’t receive confirmation until the following day.

“He had the nerve to be walking around this neighborhood,” said Nylah’s great-grandmother, Sophia Cardona.

Yvonne Torrez, the life partner of Nylah’s mother, Jessica Franco, said she was walking to the store when about 10 people gathered to check out the police activity.

“They were calling, `Baby killer.’ There was a lot of screaming and yelling,” she said.

Police Chief Keith Kilmer said detectives had been working continuously since the killing.

“We have not stopped. We have not faltered,” he said.

But police say their work isn’t done.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done to make sure this case is thoroughly investigated and thoroughly prosecuted,” Lt. Gwen Waters said.

Jessica Franco said the growing collection in her front yard of balloons, stuffed animals, candles and donations – some from complete strangers – has helped her get through the days since the shooting.

She had mixed feelings about Barnes’ arrest.

“Whether or not he gets put in prison for the rest of his life, it’s not going to bring my baby back,” the 25-year-old said. “I really want him to pay for what he did.”

The family is holding a car wash fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Anna’s Market, 1198 N. D St., San Bernardino.

A benefit concert will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at Ray’s Downtown Deli, 168 S. E St., San Bernardino.

Donations can also be made to the Nylah Franco-Torrez Fund at First Valley Credit Union, 401 W. Second St., San Bernardino.

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