Crime & Safety
Man Pleads Not Guilty in Deadly Hollywood Nightclub Shooting
The shooting that killed Andrew Lowe, 19, took place outside the Empire Club on Jan. 13.
A man charged with murder in a shooting caught on video outside a Hollywood nightclub pleaded not guilty Monday.
Robert Earl Thomas III, 22, who was arrested in Las Vegas Jan. 16 and then extradited to Los Angeles, appeared before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba.
Thomas is charged with one count of murder in the death of 19-year-old Andre Lowe, who was gunned down at approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 13 outside the Empire Club at 1716 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
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The shooting occurred after a fight inside the nightclub spilled outside. A woman who was crossing the street near the club was slightly grazed by a bullet but did not require hospital treatment, said LAPD Sgt. Mark Ro of the Hollywood Station.
Video of the shooting was posted on the TMZ.com website.
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Detectives followed a number of leads, including those generated by the posting of video showing the shooting, according to LAPD spokesman Richard French.
Thomas remains jailed in lieu of $2.04 million bail and is due back in Torrealba's court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 25.
Torrealba denied media requests for photographs and video coverage, allowing only audio recordings today.
"That's based on issues of identification," Torrealba explained, adding that she would consider such requests on a day by day basis during future appearances.
