Results tagged “gang”

A shooting early yesterday morning in Van Nuys was "prompted by an argument between rival gang members," says the Los Angeles Police Department, and now they are hoping someone will come forward with information regarding the perpetrators who gunned down a four-month-old baby boy, according to the LA Times.

A controversial new proposal by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich would give law enforcement the okay to arrest taggers without actually seeing them tag--just the act of "hanging out" together on the street would be enough to haul them in. But those objecting include the ACLU, who call the idea "unquestionably unconstitutional," according to the LA Times. Police, too, aren't sold on the idea, and many other critics wonder if putting more youth into the criminal system--particularly without an actual crime--will do more long-term damage than good, particularly because there aren't enough programs in place to help these kids better their lives.

Two teen boys, one sixteen and one fifteen, have died following being shot by suspected gang members Friday afternoon in Highland Park, according to an LAPD press release. The shooting took place just before 3:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Figueroa Street. Officers arriving on scene found Alejandro Garcia, 16, and Carlos Hernandez, 15, lying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both victims later died at the hospital. "According to detectives, a group of men believed to be gang members confronted the teens while they were on a sidewalk. A fracas broke out and one of the gunmen pulled out a handgun and fatally shot them. The suspects then ran from the scene." Police believe the shooting was "gang motivated," and the suspects remain at large.

Last Halloween, USC track star Bryshon Nellum, hailed as "the fastest kid in the world," was shot multiple times as he was heading to his vehicle. The athlete was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery on his legs. The LAPD have just announced their Southwest Gang detectives have arrested Travon Reed, 21, and Horashio Kimbrough, 21, in connection with the shooting, according to an email press release. Both Reed and Kimbrough were charged with one count of attempted murder with a gun and gang allegations. Bail for Reed was set at $2 million and Kimbrough is being held without bail.

Father Greg Boyle is the director and founder of Homeboy Industries, a well respected Los Angeles organization that works to educate and provide job training for at-risk youth and former gang members. Connie Rice is the director of the Advancement Project Los Angeles and is a prominent civil rights activist and lawyer. They are featured speaking out against Proposition 6, a measure that could bring lengthier sentences for youth, try 14 year olds as adults for "gang-related" crimes, and increase our prison overcrowding problem in California (link to LAist profile of Prop 6)

The murder of 17-year-old high schooler and football player Jamiel Shaw made headlines and had reverberations not only in his community, but city-wide. Now rapper Ice Cube has voiced his heartbreak over the death of a young man with a promising future--a death caused by senseless violence. His video for "Why Me?" uses the Shaw case a reference point for this kind of tragedy. The Daily News explains that "Cube says the Shaws are a powerful illustration of the pain that remains after a murder." The video "also features photographs of dozens of other crime victims blowing from a tree then across the sand in the desert north of Los Angeles. The video also depicts a young man in a football jersey being gunned down on a street. As he lays dying, he asks, 'Why me homie, why me?'"

A 30-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of Samantha Padilla, the 19-year-old LAX employee who was gunned down last week on the West Slauson off-ramp of the northbound 110 Freeway late at night.

In the wake of last week's shooting death of 17-year-old Los Angeles High football star Jamiel Shaw, his community--and the community of LA at large--are mourning the loss and trying to make sense of how a kid who was on the right path in life was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

We are unsure when this ABC report was aired. Nevertheless, it is extremely well done and many of the issues represented here are still current challenges....

Yet another tale of pure insanity. This one from San Bernardino County:A 65-year-old Hesperia woman was shot and killed Thursday evening after she and family members confronted taggers spray-painting graffiti on their apartment wall and trash cans. [snip] Seutatia Tausili of Hesperia was shot about 8:30 p.m. Thursday after she and other family members approached several people spray-painting their apartment complex on First Avenue. "All we wanted to know is why they were doing...

Have you seen Santa trying to cross the street this holiday season? Did you yield to him or were you naughty? Those who are bad are getting tickets in the LAPD's Santa Claus Crosswalk Enforcement Detail. You may have also seen a rise in DUI Sobriety Checkpoints, and heard of the free MTA riding this Christmas and New Year's. It's been a busy week for the LAPD and here is some blotter info: A 20-year...