Results tagged “gang” from Crime & Courts

Ricky Sisneros' sentencing hearing was postponed from today until Oct. 29, according to a court clerk. He was the alleged La Rana gang shot caller convicted of having a bunch o' weapons in his home.

Previously:

Torrance gang leader convicted

Torrance gang leader trial

My colleague, Sandy Mazza, received a few e-mails regarding a story on the killing of a San Pedro man on Friday. Some people might have missed a followup that included his name. He was Gilbert Boscilio Rodriguez, 23. He was shot to death at 2:45 a.m. near 12th and Gaffey. A man driving a dark-colored sport utility vehicle opened fire on Rodriguez and crashed. He then ran.

Here's the emails:

• "I really find it disrespectful on the comments that people have left. Stuff like that should not be up when someone got shot and killed. I grew up with his part of the family. I really would appreciate if those comments can be deleted as soon as possible."

• "I am writing this letter in regards to a story you wrote on Aug 2, 2008 about a man shot in San Pedro. The "Man Shot" had a name and I believe if you or any reporter is going to write a story then you should have all the facts. His name was Gilbert Rodriguez and was 23 years old. He was a member of society. He was someone's son, someone's brother and a father to a 4-year-old little girl who will never know her father. Due to a senseless fight he lost his life.

No one has been out to talk to his mother or family, police nor reporters. I know you are probably very busy and sorry for bothering you but I just wanted to let you know a little about Gilbert Rodriguez because he will be missed dearly....."

• "Is there any more information in regards to whom died and if there are any people in custody for the slaying? May the concerned public in the city get more detailed information in regards to this matter? Thank you."

I checked this morning and there is no new information to report. Police said the shooting is believed to be gang-related. Rodriguez was a local gang member.

A Lawndale gang member will spend 50 years to life in prison for a shooting that left a teenager in wheelchair forever. Gilbert Espinoza, 32, was sentenced in Torrance Superior Court Wednesday. A jury found him guilty in April of three counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

He was also convicted of allegations that the shooting was gang-related and that he used a gun and caused great bodily injury. The shooting occurred Sept. 22, 2006 on Prairie Avenue just north of Redondo Beach Boulevard.

Espinoza yelled out a car to three 14-year-old boys who were walking, asking them where they were from - a typical challenge that often leads to violence. While two of the boys responded that they "don't bang," one yelled back: "Redondo." Espinoza, who belongs to a rival Lawndale gang, made a U-turn and shot out the window, hitting the boy who said "Redondo."

The victim was hit in the back and is now paralyzed.

During yesterday's preliminary hearing for two Latino men suspected of shooting at a black family as they drove through Harbor Gateway looking at cars for sale, the defense attorneys hit hard on the topic of whether or not the family engaged in any gang activity. There's always been this suspicion that one or more of the passengers were gang members, who maybe flashed their own gang signs or displayed a weapon. They all denied any such notion on the witness stand.

While Ernesto Murillo, a known East Side Torrance gang member, is the believed shooter - things are a little murkier for his co-defendant, Ismael Torres. Torres, who listened to the proceedings through a Spanish-language interpreter, is not known to law enforcement. He has no tattoos and doesn't dress the part of a gang banger. His mother was in court, and she wiped away tears in the hallway as her son was led back to the lock-up in shackles.

In the long run, it really doesn't matter - legally or morally - if the family were or are gang members. Certainly, 6-year-old Laverya Elzy and his two toddler cousins don't prowl the streets late at night looking to score crack, carjack or kill. No one deserves to be shot at, and those that pull the trigger over something as lame as "they were driving slowly in my territory" need to be prosecuted and locked up like the animlas they are.

 

Capt. Dave Lindsey of the LAPD's Harbor Division told me at 4:30 p.m. today that he double-checked with detectives and found that the 16-year-old Harbor City shooting suspect and his 21-year-old wounded cousin are "documented gang members." That means police officers have encountered them before and listed their names in their files as known Harbor Area gang members.

The family says otherwise. What can I tell ya.

The wounded man, meanwhile, was declared brain dead at noon today. He remains on life support.

Late Monday, a jury came back with guilty verdicts against Gilbert Espinoza, a 32-year-old gang member who shot at three teenage boys in Lawndale because he believed they were rivals. One bullet hit one of the 14-year-old boys, and left him paralyzed in wheelchair-bound for life.

The user comments at the end of our story are the usual, predictable kind of stuff with one faction making anti-gang and sometimes racist comments and the other claiming Espinoza's innocence. It's a bit heated.

This isn't a South Bay crime, but it's worth noting.

The FBI today announced $200,000 in rewards for information to lead them to a Los Angeles gang member on the list of its 10 Most Wanted fugitives.

They also released a video that shows him dancing at a party.

Emigdio Preciado Jr., who also goes by the aliases “Junior,” “Trigger,” “Spooky,” and “Snyper,” is suspected of opening fire with an assault rifle on two sheriff’s deputies in Whittier on Sept. 5, 2000. One deputy was hit in the head and severely hurt.

If you know where he is, call the police.

Here's the FBI's wanted poster and video: Preciado video

Gang counselors at the Toberman Neighborhood Center will lead a March for Peace on Saturday in the Harbor Gateway.
The march comes in the wake of the March 4 shooting of Lavareay Elzy, a 6-year-old boy riding in a car with his family when suspected gang members opened fire.

Two Latino gang members were arrested.
Lavareay, who is black, remains hospitalized.
Detectives were working to determine if the crime was racially motivated.
The march begins at 10 a.m. at Plaza Del Amo and Halldale Avenue.