LOS ANGELES, California – A man facing charges for a murder case dating back to a body found in a 55-gallon drum on a Malibu beach and a thwarted robbery in El Monte is now set to face a new murder charge for a killing in Inglewood almost a year ago.
Joshua Lee Simmons, 37, is expected to appear in court next week in downtown Los Angeles to respond to the amended complaint. This complaint now includes a murder charge related to the killing of Anthony Soloc, 50, who was shot in the head in Inglewood on Jan. 20, 2023.
In addition to the murder charge, the amended complaint also includes the special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders, as well as accusations that Simmons personally used an assault weapon and a semi-automatic pistol.
Last October, Simmons was charged with murder and a handgun use allegation in connection with the death of Javonnta Marshann Murphy, 32, whose body was found inside the 55-gallon drum on the 23200 block of Pacific Coast Highway.
According to authorities, Murphy was found by a lifeguard and determined to have been shot and killed before being placed inside the barrel. Sheriff’s homicide investigators determined that Murphy died from a gunshot wound to the head, based on the records from the county medical examiner’s office.
Furthermore, Simmons faces additional charges, including three counts of criminal threats involving different victims and one count of attempted robbery in El Monte. These charges are related to incidents in which he was caught on video allegedly trying to commit robbery at a jewelry store, involving the use of bear repellent spray.
Simmons has been in custody since his arrest by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 3. Another defendant, Dennis Eugene Vance, 41, is also facing charges as an accessory after the fact and is currently free on bond.
The upcoming arraignment of Simmons is yet another development in a series of criminal cases involving murder and robbery, where he is implicated in a string of violent incidents in different locations. This ongoing legal process demonstrates the efforts of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for their actions, and to seek justice for the victims and their families.