Suspect enters not guilty plea in shooting death of friend in Oceanside

An Oceanside Police Cruiser File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego An Oceanside man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he allegedly shot a friend to death two weeks ago Osvaldo Sixtos Lopez was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of gunning down Malietoa Rasmussen who was exposed in a canyon alongside Interstate according to the Oceanside Police Department Patrol officers responding to a document of an apparent gunshot victim off the block of Country Club Lane in Oceanside uncovered Rasmussen mortally wounded in a nearby gorge late on the morning of June Lt Michael Provence explained The Oceanside resident was pronounced dead at the scene Lopez was taken into custody following a search of his home in the block of Kraft Street less than a mile north of the spot where the victim was discovered Police have disclosed no suspected motive for the shooting The victim and suspect were friends the lieutenant disclosed Lopez has been charged with murder and an allegation of using a firearm in the killing After his hearing in Vista Superior Court he remains in custody without bail