PASADENA >> Prosecutors filed a murder charge Wednesday against a woman accused of fatally shooting another woman during a dispute over the weekend in Pasadena, officials said.
Theretha Howard, 58, entered no plea during her appearance in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, where she was charged with one count of murder, along with the special allegation that she personally used a handgun in the killing, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said. Her arraignment hearing was continued to July 20 in downtown Los Angeles.
The fatal shooting was reported about 1:30 a.m. along Peoria Street, just west of Fair Oaks Avenue.
Katoya King, 44, of Pasadena died following the shooting, according to Pasadena police and Los Angeles County coroner officials.
The suspects knew each other prior to the shooting, Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Carrillo said, but police didn’t know what their relationship was.
Both went to a Peoria Avenue residence believed to be the home of a mutual acquaintance, the lieutenant said.
“There was a dispute that occurred that led our suspect to get agitated to the point where she pulled a gun,” he said.
Police believe Howard shot King once in the chest before fleeing the scene, Carrillo said.
The wounded woman managed to make her way out to the street, officials said. She walked south for half a block along the sidewalk before collapsing.
The wounded woman’s screams for help caught the attention of neighbors, who called 911, Carrillo said. But no one reported hearing the gunfire.
Paramedics rushed King to a hospital, where she died from her injuries at 4:31 a.m., coroner’s Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
Carrillo said the victim was able to give a “very limited” statement to police before losing consciousness.
Investigators found a handgun discarded in the area of the crime scene. Ballistics tests were pending to determined whether the gun was the same one involved in the deadly shooting.
Detectives remained at the shooting through Saturday afternoon.
“Subsequent detective investigation” and “information that was shared with the detectives” led investigators to identify Howard as a person of interest. Detectives found her at her Pasadena home and arrested her on suspicion of King’s murder following an interview.
According to county booking records, Howard was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

PASADENA >> Police have arrested one Pasadena woman in connection with the fatal shooting of another this weekend.
Police arrested Teretha Howard, 58 of Pasadena Saturday afternoon on suspicion of murder, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said in a written statement.
The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was found about 1:45 a.m. Saturday lying wounded on the sidewalk along Peoria Street, just west of Fair Oaks Avenue, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds just under three hours later.
“Follow-up investigation led detectives to a suspect, Teretha Howard, who was arrested and booked for murder,” Luna said. “Due to a preexisting medical condition, she was transported to a local hospital.”
A motive in the shooting was not available, nor was the suspect’s relationship to the victim, described as a Pasadena woman in her 40s.
Public records indicate Howard lives in a Raymond Avenue apartment complex about a quarter-mile away from the scene of the shooting.
Detectives arrested Howard shortly after 3:30 p.m., Los Angeles County booking records show.
She was being held in lieu of $2 million bail pending her initial court appearance.

PASADENA >> A woman died after she was found shot on a Pasadena sidewalk early Saturday, authorities said.
The woman was found about 1:45 a.m., lying wounded in the 00 block of West Peoria Street, Pasadena police officials said.
“Pasadena Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries,” police said in a written statement.
The woman’s identity has not yet released pending notifiication of her family, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. David Smith said. Police initially described her as a Pasadena woman in her 40s.
Doctors pronounced her dead at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena at 4:31 a.m., Smith said.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, including a suspect description, were not available.
Police received no reports of gunfire before the victim was found wounded, according to Lt. William Grisafe.
“We did not get any shots fired calls,” he said.
Detectives remained at the scene gathering clues Saturday afternoon.
Investigators focused their attention on the backyard of a home, which was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape.
No one answered the door at the home on the property. Neighbors declined to comment.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.