Suspect Arrested in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Last Edited: Friday, 16 Jan 2009, 7:19 AM PST
Created: Friday, 16 Jan 2009, 2:41 AM PST

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Los Angeles --


A 25-year-old gang member released on parole in June was in custody today in connection with the shooting death of a 4-year-old boy slain on a sidewalk during a confrontation between suspected gang members earlier this week, police said.

Howard Astorga of Los Angeles was arrested about 6 p.m. Thursday and booked around midnight for the murder of Roberto Lopez, Jr. who was fatally shot in the 1200 block of West Court Street, just south of Angelino Heights, around 4:25 p.m. Tuesday, said Officer Ana Aguirre of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

Astorga, an alleged gang member, was most recently jailed for a parole violation and was released on parole in June 2008, Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz, the commanding officer for the department's Central Bureau, said at a pre-dawn news conference.

"The city has thrown everything at this investigation, including widespread canvassing in the neighborhood in which it happened," Diaz said, describing the efforts as "tireless and relentless" and benefiting from extensive community support.

He said the investigation involved detectives from various LAPD stations and the robbery homicide, gang operations and support divisions, as well as members of other law enforcement agencies, among them the Los Angeles school police, the State Parole Department, the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On Wednesday afternoon roughly 50 detectives canvassed the area, distributing flyers notifying community members that they could offers tips by telephone, message-texting and e-mails, Diaz said.

"The community has come through in a wonderful way," he added.

LAPD Capt. John Egan, the Rampart area's commanding officer, noted at the news conference that "the investigation is ongoing, and we are still seeking the input from the community about anything they know about this specific incident."

Police said more arrests were expected.

Egan said detectives believe that some gang members on the ground exchanged words with some individuals in a vehicle prior to the shooting. It was uncertain how many people Astorga was with, but "we do know that the shots were fired from a northerly direction southbound on Bixel," Egan said.

Egan said police received several tips, including from a community member who approached an officer at the Central Station.

"We got quite a bit of information from a variety of different sources," Egan said, adding that police were "confident" Astorga was the shooter.

Diaz said Astorga's rap sheet includes grand theft auto, parole violations and drugs and weapons violations.

The victim's family was notified of the arrest about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Detective Fred Faustino, head of the Rampart Station's homicide unit.

Faustino said that the family was "relieved, emotional, and grateful" that the alleged shooter had been taken into custody but remained distraught about the child's death.

According to investigators, a bullet likely intended for the occupants of a vehicle struck the little boy in the chest while he was on the sidewalk on Court Street. The boy, who had been walking with his sister to a community center two doors down from their home, later died at Children's Hospital.

The suspects were described as Latinos with shaved heads, and the shooting appears to have been gang-related, police said.

A charitable fund, the Roberto Lopez Jr. Memorial Fund, was established at Wells Fargo Bank to assist the Lopez family. Those wishing to make donations can go to any Wells Fargo branch and submit a check, money order or cash. Also, donors who are Wells Fargo customers may transfer funds directly. Questions about the fund can be directed to the offices of Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes at (213) 485-0763.



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