Pico Rivera shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 wounded

29327-FALCONES-thumb-300x400-29326.jpgPICO RIVERA — Detectives tried to make sense Sunday of a pizza parlor shooting that left three men dead and seven people wounded during a charity fund-raiser.
The names of those killed were not released Sunday evening pending notification of family members, coroner’s officials said. Two of the dead men were cousins.
The attack occurred about 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in front of Falcone’s Pizza, at 9247 Slauson Ave.
Officials believe the Old School Riders motorcycle club was holding a charity event in the eatery’s parking lot when a male Hispanic adult opened fire.
“(He was) firing wildly into the crowd,” said Detective Joe Sheehy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which is investigating the shooting.
The gunman was last seen getting into the passenger side of a dark-colored vehicle with a waiting driver, Sheehy said. The car sped away west on Slauson Avenue.
No further description of the gunman was available Sunday.
The three deceased victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, four men and three women were hospitalized, but all were expected to survive their injuries, Sheehy said.
About a dozen children were present when the shooting occurred, Sheehy said. “It was very lucky no kids were hit.”
It was unclear Sunday what motivated the attack, which appeared to be unprovoked, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Byron Ward said in a written statement.
Sheehy declined to say if additional gunmen may have been involved.
“That’s something we’re going to have to hold back for right now,” he said.
Officials said detectives were sifting through footage on surveillance tapes from nearby businesses. About 40 witnesses inside the pizza parlor had been interviewed Saturday night.
Sheehy said the Old School Riders has no gang affiliation, and Falcone’s Pizza is not a gang hangout.
While some witnesses said the shooting may have involved members of the Mongols motorcycle gang, Sheehy said he did not believe anyone attending the party Saturday was a Mongol.
“If this was (an attack) against Mongols, it was definitely a case of mistaken identity,” Sheehy said.
“Friends, family members, that’s who was attending this,” he added. “That’s about all it is.”
Falcone’s Pizza was open for business Sunday, but an on-duty manager declined to comment. A memorial of flowers and candles stood in the parking lot.
A stray bullet Saturday had pierced the window in front of the playground area of a nearby McDonald’s restaurant, but no one was injured. By Sunday, the window had been replaced and the business was also open.
Rey Castillo, 52, of Highland Park said his daughter’s boyfriend, Garret Dandini, and Dandini’s cousin, Tony Dandini, were among the dead.
He said the two were members of the Old School Riders club — which he described as a group of motorcyclists who enjoy riding together and raising money for charity.
“The club’s just family and friends,” Castillo said. “All they want to do is ride together and have fun.”
Attempts to reach the Old School Riders were unsuccessful Sunday.
The group’s Web site, www.oldschoolriders.com, described its members as “ordinary people who enjoy the freedom of riding.”
“No one represents any club,” a statement on the site read. “We are just friends and family who gather together and ride.”
A flyer on the Web site advertised Saturday’s event as “Bike Night,” and indicated there would be awards for best motorcycles, a raffle and security.
Sheehy said detectives needed witnesses to step forward and identify suspects.
“We’d like to ask for the public’s assistance in helping solve this one,” he said.

PHOTO: A memorial of candles and flowers stood in the parking lot of Falcone’s Pizza, 9247 Slauson Ave., in Pico Rivera Sunday, June 28, 2009. Three people were killed and seven others wounded at the pizza parlor the previous evening.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

25 thoughts on “Pico Rivera shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 wounded

  1. Wow how could something like this happen? These people were out there having a good time and someone had to ruin it for them, I hope they catch the guys that did the shooting for the deserve to get caught and spend the rest of their lives in Prison

  2. Odd when you consider the suspect description, but rumor has it there was at least one Mongol at the location and he was hit, if not killed. True or not could it be Hispanic Gangs are now going to war with what they perceive as m/c gangs?

  3. Maybe, I am just in denial or live in a fantasy world. How can a few or even one person ruin it for the rest of the people who do live in the area yet more importantly ruin the lives of families and friends by killing strangers….As the previous person stated I hope they are caught and sent to prison, however, maybe prison would be to easy for them….May God have mercy on your soul….

  4. I am blown away by this.
    I grew up with garret d. here in whittier and he was a bright kid who just served 10 years in the navy over seas.
    How can he come home and be shoot this is not wright.
    Guns dont belong on the streets at all there for cops , soldgers , and outhers that protect us.
    I will miss him and wish the best to the family in there tragic loss.
    throw the guns away and be real men and fight with your hands and feet like we use to before guns..

  5. I knew Garret Dandini very well. We served on the USS Higgins together for 5 years in the same work center. He was a wonderful guy, and one of my best friends on the ship. This truly is a tragedy. My heart goes out to Garret’s parents, daughter, and all of his many friends and family members that this terrible loss has taken its toll on.

  6. i was there, but just to eat, had no ties to old school riders.. but it had to be the sadest site ive ever seen… i hope those sons of bitches involved get sentenced to death!

  7. I served with Garret Dandini too. Words cannot express how horrible I feel about this. He was a great guy and deserved better. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

  8. wow i cannot believe this Garrett was one of my best friends from 9-10th grade even though we lost touch i will and never did forget about him and his loving family i am crushed by this news

  9. Garret is my boyfriends best friend and they grew up together since the 2nd grade. words cant explain what we felt when we heard the tragic news. still now we sit here thinking it was all just a bad dream. garret was a great man all around who had a heart of gold. he served our country for many years just to protect us as civilians and for some heartless person to just take his life and lives of others is just unbelieveable. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Dandini family and the the others who lost there loves ones. garret i know your in a better place now ,your memorie will live forever in our hearts. we will always remember the fun we all shared together. We will miss you and we love you dearly. R.I.P.

  10. wow, Garret had a lot of friends, I served with him also, he was a good guy. my heart goes out to his parents, he was an only child, i cannot even begin to imagine what his mom is going through. he will be missed.

  11. It’s not fair that innocent people die everyday from senseless violence. Garret was an amazing individual who served his country and loved his friends and family. I cannot imagine the pain his family must be going through. It’s bad enough losing one member of your family, but two?! To idiotic, loser gang members?! I will keep all of them in my heart and in my thoughts. I pray that those responsible are found and that others learn from this tragedy. There were too many victims in this, physical and emotional, and we, as a community, should not stand for it. My heart is heavy, but I know these innocent and loving souls are in a better place. R.I.P. Garret Dandini

  12. Garret was my recruiting partner out in Hollywood for the last couple of months of my active duty career. Even after I left the Navy we were still close friends and kept in touch. This sickens me to the core. My heart goes out to his parents, whom I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of times.

  13. Im in total shock as words cannot describe this senseless act of violence! I have lost a good friend in Tony Dandini, even though Ive only known him for 3years it seamed like a lifetime. Tony was a great guy who always had a smile on his face, he lived life with such gusto, such a positive attitude that this ugliness just blows me away. I cannot even begin to imagine what the Dandini family is going through right now with there loss of not one but two family members, my heart is heavy with grief, my thoughts and prayers go out to them. Tony well always be boys, Ill never forget you my friend!
    R.I.P Tony and Garret

  14. I cannot believe garrett is dead. He was my cousin and he didn’t deserve this! I love u garrett

  15. I didnt serve with garret or know him, but as a navy veteran and the fact that I live no more then 4-5 blocks from the place this happened, Im feeled with great sadness. It is a tragedy to see a shipmate killed in cold blood, and it hurts. RIP to all those innocents killed, and I hope with all my heart justice is served to these cold blooded murderers!

  16. Wow! It is amazing how horrible people can be. I hope they catch the guy who did this, he needs to rot in jail. I was not super close to Tony, but I have hung out with him on several occasions. He was a great guy. Always smiling and super nice. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends. I know he will be sorely missed.

  17. Wow! It is amazing how horrible people can be. I hope they catch the guy who did this, he needs to rot in jail. I was not super close to Tony, but I have hung out with him on several occasions. He was a great guy. Always smiling and super nice. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends. I know he will be sorely missed.

  18. Also as a fellow U.S.N veteran, you never want to see/hear about a fallen shipmate, especially under these circumstances. Horrible! Having never met Garret, I did have the pleasure of “hangin” out with Tony at my brothers house. We talked guitars and guitars and just enjoyed the day. Heaven must be humming with Tony’s sounds! My thoughts and prayers are with the Dandini family. R.I.P. Tony and Garret.

    Some video of Tony at an Atomic Punks show…He was kind enough to give a ride to me over to my brother’s house after the show. Only if we had a guitar that day…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWoIYVowfxA

  19. I still cant believe that I will never see Tonys smile or hear him laugh again. He was such a wonderful friend, always willing to lend a hand. My heart aches for his son who had his father taken from him much too soon. I feel for his family, not only for losing Tony, but cousin as well. Tony we will miss you!

  20. I went to high school with Tony and would run into him every few years at a concert or around town. I just ran into him recently about a week or two ago at Walmart. He was getting his son a bike. I could see he was a very proud and happy father. Tony was always happy, positive and loving life. My prayers go out to the Dandini family.

    Keep the Faith!

  21. I have seen so many senseless deaths at my job. Knowing that this incident included someone I know really hits home. Every time that I saw Tony I enjoyed his company, attitude and spirit. We always talked bikes, music and life. I know that I will miss him every time I am at a gathering He should be at….. Very sad. My prayers go to those that were murdered and their Families.

  22. I worked with Anthony D. At Mission Hospital a new construction 4 story building the past year. He was a Tin Knocker(A/C system installer) We always talked about Bikes of course , I ride Buells and he Rode Harleys and by the way he rode every day to work , cold ,windy,rainy,sunny didnt matter! Not seeing his Bike parked in his spot this week just breaks my heart, for his family and friends and especially his 14 year old son . Just his aura gave off a sense of love and caring and a really good soul.An old soul I feel. Its not surprising he was helping people at a charity event. What is , is that the best of us seem to leave this world the soonest. Its not fair! I have to think that God wants the best of us with him sooner than we would like ,but that it serves his will to help all of us and Heaven. Gods Speed Anthony . Luv ya Bro

  23. I worked with Anthony D. At Mission Hospital a new construction 4 story building the past year. He was a Tin Knocker(A/C system installer) We always talked about Bikes of course , I ride Buells and he Rode Harleys and by the way he rode every day to work , cold ,windy,rainy,sunny didnt matter! Not seeing his Bike parked in his spot this week just breaks my heart, for his family and friends and especially his 14 year old son . Just his aura gave off a sense of love and caring and a really good soul.An old soul I feel. Its not surprising he was helping people at a charity event. What is , is that the best of us seem to leave this world the soonest. Its not fair! I have to think that God wants the best of us with him sooner than we would like ,but that it serves his will to help all of us and Heaven. Gods Speed Anthony . Luv ya Bro

  24. I worked with Anthony D. At Mission Hospital a new construction 4 story building the past year. He was a Tin Knocker(A/C system installer) We always talked about Bikes of course , I ride Buells and he Rode Harleys and by the way he rode every day to work , cold ,windy,rainy,sunny didnt matter! Not seeing his Bike parked in his spot this week just breaks my heart, for his family and friends and especially his 14 year old son . Just his aura gave off a sense of love and caring and a really good soul.An old soul I feel. Its not surprising he was helping people at a charity event. What is , is that the best of us seem to leave this world the soonest. Its not fair! I have to think that God wants the best of us with him sooner than we would like ,but that it serves his will to help all of us and Heaven. Gods Speed Anthony . Luv ya Bro

Comments are closed.