The two men accused of shooting and killing a grandfather who was watering his lawn in West Long Beach pleaded not guilty to murder charges Wednesday morning.

Authorities allege Rhyan Burrell, 20, and Terrel Warren, 23, shot and killed Jose Raul Corrales on Oct. 9 outside his home near Summit Street and Canal Avenue.

Drive-by shooting kills grandfather watering his yard in West Long Beach, neighbors say

Corrales, a 69-year-old grandfather, was standing on the lawn with several of his grandchildren who had just gotten home from school when he was hit with bullets coming from a car of young men who had just asked the family on the lawn where they were from—a common gang challenge—one grandson, 15-year-old Bryan Aguilar said.

When they responded that they weren’t part of any gang, the driver of the car drove away, made a U-turn, and briefly parked before opening fire on the group outside the house, Aguilar said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Burrell and Warren with murder along with special circumstance allegations of murder while lying in wait, murder to further the activities of a criminal street gang and murder by discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle.

Burrell and Warren are also facing one count each of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and unlawful firearm activity and six counts each of attempted murder.

If convicted, Burrell and Warren could face the death penalty. They’re both being held on no bail.

According to a search warrant, the shooting happened on the same day there were “high tensions” at Cabrillo High School just down the street from the shooting. Warren, along with other family members went to the school that day to confront officials about bullying on campus, the warrant said.

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier