SAN DIEGO -- Two teens pleaded innocent to murder charges Friday for allegedly gunning down a 19-year-old aspiring actress after she spurned romantic advances, authorities said.

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Pinon Was On Her Way To Becoming A Star

Hugo Ariel Jimenez, 19, and 17-year-old Brian Aquino were arrested this week on suspicion of killing Lomita resident Adriana Pinon (pictured, left) in her family's living room Jan. 31, according to San Diego police.

Fingerprint and DNA evidence found in Pinon's Lomita-area home allegedly linked Jimenez to the slaying.

"Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of the juvenile," Lt. Mike Hurley said.

The teens are charged with murder, robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Jimenez and Aquino, who is being charged as an adult, also face special circumstances of murder during commission of a burglary and murder during commission of a robbery, making this a capital case.

"The DA felt this was an appropriate case for charging (Aquino) as an adult under Proposition 21," said Deputy District Attorney Tia Quick, citing the voter-approved measure handing such authority to prosecutors.

"The victim was alone in her own house," Quick told the court. "The defendants were in the process of taking property from her home. The victim was shot once in the back of the head, execution-style. That was after she was punched in the face three times."

The young woman was pursuing a career in show business and already had made 19 appearances as an extra in the daytime drama, "The Young and the Restless."

Investigators believe Jimenez committed the killing because he "wanted a personal relationship with Pinon, but she did not," Hurley said.

"In revenge for (his) being spurned, the two suspects went to the Pinon house to rob Ms. Pinon, which led to murder," the lieutenant added.

Quick said Jimenez was the gunman.

Judge David Szumowski ordered the defendants held without bail and told them to have no contact with Pinon's family. Quick said threats had been made by members of Jimenez's family to potential witnesses.

Nearly 20 Pinon family members were in the courtroom.

"The family is very tearful and upset," Quick said outside the courtroom. "They're having a difficult time dealing with losing their daughter in this way."