4 ORDERED TO TRIAL IN VIOLENT BIKINI-BAR ROBBERY THREE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, 1 AS DRIVER.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Three men and a woman from Carson and Long Beach have been ordered to stand trial on charges stemming from a bloody takeover robbery of a Lancaster bikini bar that left three people hospitalized.

Two of the defendants laughed and made comments during Thursday's preliminary hearing at which a judge concluded that prosecutors have enough evidence to warrant a trial. At one point, one defendant appeared to have fallen asleep, though he denied it to the judge, the prosecutor said.

``I personally don't think they understand the magnitude and gravity of what's happening. Based on the evidence, there is a strong probability they can spend the rest of their life in prison,'' Deputy District Attorney Hayden Zacky said after the hearing.

Ex-convicts Terrence Dunson, 22, of Carson, Brian McDonald, 22, of Long Beach, and Marshawn Jackson, 23, of Carson are accused of beating the bar owner and shooting two employees and a customer during the Sept. 13 holdup of Snooky's on Sierra Highway.

Dunson's twin sister, Amber Dunson of Carson, was charged with driving the getaway car on a 35-mile chase.

The three men each were ordered to stand trial on four counts of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping for purposes of robbery, and four counts of robbery.

They also were held for trial on a allegation that the crime was committed to benefit, promote or in association with a gang, Zacky said.

Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Lisa Chung ordered Amber Dunson to stand trial on charges of robbery, kidnapping, evading a police officer, and the gang allegation, but not attempted murder, Zacky said.

``Amber was the getaway car driver. She never entered the location. The judge believed Amber did not have a specific intent to kill as the others did,'' Zacky said.

Zacky said he could refile the attempted murder charges against Amber Dunson at a later date.

Terrence Dunson's girlfriend used to work at the bar and may have been a dancer there, officials said.

Terrence Dunson also is facing charges of murder from a July shooting in a Los Angeles supermarket parking lot that left a man dead.

``He walked up to a guy, said a few words and shot him twice,'' Zacky said. The victim was selling marijuana, Zacky said.

The holdup started after three men entered the bar about noon and proceeded to play pool and drink beer.

The three walked to the foyer, which contains a cigarette machine, and when they returned, all three had guns in their hands. While authorities have said the men had been asked to leave when one didn't have proper identification, the bar owner said their IDs had all been checked and that all were over 21.

When the men returned, one hit the bar owner with a bar stool and, according to deputies' reports, when the bartender tried to intervene, she was shot.

The men ordered a customer and a dancer to lie on the floor and began demanding money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the men shot the customer and the dancer and then fled. They sped off in a car driven by a woman.

On the Antelope Valley Freeway, the car was spotted by a California Highway Patrol officer near Acton. Officers chased the car to the border of Pacoima and San Fernando, where the occupants jumped out.

Officers captured three of them almost immediately. The fourth was apprehended nearly two hours later.

Money, several handguns and clothing were found in the car, officials said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com