Long Beach police, working with county, state and federal agencies, arrested the key shot-callers and the head of one of the city's oldest and the most violent street gangs Thursday, according to police.
The arrests were in connection with nearly a dozen shootings over the past year, two of which resulted in the deaths of Long Beach men and all of which targeted Long Beach residents, many tied to rival gangs.
An LBPD timeline and brief synopsis of the crimes follows:
July 20, 2009, 9:42 p.m., 1700 block of Chestnut Avenue, attempted murder of a 30-year-old male Hispanic. Shooting occurred after an argument between the victim and suspect.
July 31, 2009, 10:56 p.m., 300 block of West 17th Street, assault with a deadly weapon against a 20-year-old male Hispanic. The victim was riding a scooter in an alley when he was shot.
Aug. 15, 2009, 2:37 a.m., 1300 block of Dawson Avenue, attempted murder of a 26-year-old male Asian. Suspect walked up to a home where a rival gang party was being held and fired numerous rounds, striking the victim who was sitting in a nearby vehicle.
Oct. 23, 2009, 7:40 p.m., 2100 block of Pacific Avenue, discharge of a firearm, victim unknown. Officers called to investigate shots-fired call find shell casings.
Oct. 26, 2009, 7:25 p.m., 1900 block of Cedar Avenue, murder of Esaul Villagrana, 23-year-old male Hispanic, and attempted murder of a 25-year-old female Hispanic. Villagrana and his wife were driving in the area when shots were fired, striking and killing Villagrana.
Nov. 11, 2009, 8:30 p.m., 1200 block of Ohio Avenue, assault with a deadly weapon on a 23-year-old male Hispanic. The victim was in a bedroom when a suspect fired rounds from outside the house through the window, striking the victim.
Nov. 18, 2009, 6:38 p.m., 2200 block of Locust Avenue, shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Victim is listed as a 19-year-old Hispanic male whose apartment window was hit by gunfire.
Dec. 16, 2009, 8:36 p.m., 2200 block of Locust Avenue, attempted murder of a 17-year-old Hispanic male. The victim was walking home when he was shot.
Jan. 8, 2010, 8:49 p.m., 2400 block of Earl Avenue, shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Victims are described as a 61-year-old black female and 50-year-old Hispanic male. Victims heard gunshots and found vehicles hit by gunfire.
Jan. 30, 2010, 11:39 p.m., 15th Street and Stanley Avenue, murder of Jonathan Cordova, an 18-year-old Hispanic male, and attempted murder of his friend, an 18-year-old Hispanic male. The surviving victim and Cordova were standing outside talking when the suspect walked up, struck up a conversation with Cordova and then shot and killed Cordova. The suspect also opened fire at the surviving victim as he ran away.
Feb. 11, 2010, 3:05 p.m., 11th Street and Myrtle Avenue, assault with a deadly weapon, victim unknown. Residents reported a shooting and investigators found a group of male blacks and male Hispanics got into a fight which resulted in a male Hispanic suspect opening fire.
The arrests were in connection with nearly a dozen shootings over the past year, two of which resulted in the deaths of Long Beach men and all of which targeted Long Beach residents, many tied to rival gangs.
An LBPD timeline and brief synopsis of the crimes follows:
July 20, 2009, 9:42 p.m., 1700 block of Chestnut Avenue, attempted murder of a 30-year-old male Hispanic. Shooting occurred after an argument between the victim and suspect.
July 31, 2009, 10:56 p.m., 300 block of West 17th Street, assault with a deadly weapon against a 20-year-old male Hispanic. The victim was riding a scooter in an alley when he was shot.
Aug. 15, 2009, 2:37 a.m., 1300 block of Dawson Avenue, attempted murder of a 26-year-old male Asian. Suspect walked up to a home where a rival gang party was being held and fired numerous rounds, striking the victim who was sitting in a nearby vehicle.
Oct. 23, 2009, 7:40 p.m., 2100 block of Pacific Avenue, discharge of a firearm, victim unknown. Officers called to investigate shots-fired call find shell casings.
Oct. 26, 2009, 7:25 p.m., 1900 block of Cedar Avenue, murder of Esaul Villagrana, 23-year-old male Hispanic, and attempted murder of a 25-year-old female Hispanic. Villagrana and his wife were driving in the area when shots were fired, striking and killing Villagrana.
Nov. 11, 2009, 8:30 p.m., 1200 block of Ohio Avenue, assault with a deadly weapon on a 23-year-old male Hispanic. The victim was in a bedroom when a suspect fired rounds from outside the house through the window, striking the victim.
Nov. 18, 2009, 6:38 p.m., 2200 block of Locust Avenue, shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Victim is listed as a 19-year-old Hispanic male whose apartment window was hit by gunfire.
Dec. 16, 2009, 8:36 p.m., 2200 block of Locust Avenue, attempted murder of a 17-year-old Hispanic male. The victim was walking home when he was shot.
Jan. 8, 2010, 8:49 p.m., 2400 block of Earl Avenue, shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Victims are described as a 61-year-old black female and 50-year-old Hispanic male. Victims heard gunshots and found vehicles hit by gunfire.
Jan. 30, 2010, 11:39 p.m., 15th Street and Stanley Avenue, murder of Jonathan Cordova, an 18-year-old Hispanic male, and attempted murder of his friend, an 18-year-old Hispanic male. The surviving victim and Cordova were standing outside talking when the suspect walked up, struck up a conversation with Cordova and then shot and killed Cordova. The suspect also opened fire at the surviving victim as he ran away.
Feb. 11, 2010, 3:05 p.m., 11th Street and Myrtle Avenue, assault with a deadly weapon, victim unknown. Residents reported a shooting and investigators found a group of male blacks and male Hispanics got into a fight which resulted in a male Hispanic suspect opening fire.
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