Thread: At least 10 slain in L.A. County during the weekend

At least 10 slain in L.A. County during the weekend

Authorities believe several of the killings bore gang connections.

By Ari B. Bloomekatz and Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
6:17 PM PDT, June 8, 2008

At least 10 people were slain in Los Angeles County last weekend, and authorities suspect several of the killings were gang related. Nine took place in the city of Los Angeles.

The number of killings is not unprecedented, but it is greater than the county's average homicide rate, which is two to three per day.

Map: Weekend homicides Blog: The Homicide ReportMany of the names of the dead were not available from the coroner's office. Only one person has been arrested.

The latest shooting occurred about 1:40 p.m. Sunday in the 8400 block of Greenbush Avenue in Panorama City where a man on a bicycle asked two men where they were from then shot them. The victims were taken to a hospital where one died and the other was in stable condition.

A drive-by shooting Saturday afternoon in Baldwin Park claimed the life of 16-year-old Ruben Chavera, authorities said.

Witnesses told L.A. County sheriff's deputies the teenager was standing on Illinois Street between Kenmore Avenue and Idaho Street about 3:30 p.m. when someone shot him.

Later Saturday night in southeast Los Angeles, a 20-year-old man was standing at 95th Street and Vermont Avenue when three men shot him several times, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Sara Faden said.

Faden said another killing in southeast Los Angeles early Sunday also may have been gang-related. In that instance, 20-year-old Edward Jones Jr. was shot in the 1400 block of East 111th Place shortly before 2 a.m.

Not long after, four gang members started a fight at a bar near Hill Street and 24th Street in the Newton area, police said. The fight ended with one person shot dead and another with gunshot wounds. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office identified the dead man as 37-year-old Jose Villalobos of Bell.

The five other homicides:

* A man in his 30s was found beaten to death in the 9100 block of Bartee Avenue in Arleta, in the San Fernando Valley, shortly after midnight Saturday.

Police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said the man may have been killed elsewhere and his body dumped there.

* About two hours later in the Newton area, a man was killed after people in two cars got into an argument while driving near 66th Street and Broadway.

Two men from one car shot the other driver, hitting him in the chest and causing him to crash, Faden said. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he died.

* A man in his early 20s was shot to death near Perlita Avenue and Veselich Avenue in northeast Los Angeles about 7:45 p.m. Saturday, police said.

* In North Hollywood, near Saticoy Street and Morella Avenue, a 40-year-old man was killed about 11:40 p.m. Saturday after another man hit him with a bottle and then stabbed him with its broken stem, police said.

* Police arrested Kenneth Harris, 44, Sunday on suspicion of shooting 29-year-old Soccoro Lopez about 2:40 a.m. in Panorama City. Authorities said Harris was trying to rob Lopez, who was was in a parked car near the corner of Nordhoff Street and Columbus Avenue. Lopez was shot in the torso.

Ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com

Ruben.vives@latimes.com

Times staff writer Jean-Paul Renaud contributed to this report.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 5974.story

This is just a typical week-end in L.A....nothing unusual!

For the last six months, there have been more people murdered in L.A. County than American soldiers killed in Iraq! Last month, 19 soldiers were killed in Iraq, and 48 people were murdered in L.A.!!!

The corrupt, ex-gangbanger, Mechista mayor should be physically removed from office NOW...not next year when his term is up! He's back in Washington trying to get chummy with Obama!!! Saw him on Channel 7 this a.m.....IN WASHINGTON! If this isn't dereliction of duty...I don't know what is!!! Actually, he has ABANDONED his job!

The final tally was 11 murders this weekend.

Also, Channel 5 reported that there are 2-3 murders EVERY DAY in L.A. County...most of them gang related!