gangs: January 2012 Archives

PASADENA -- Two alleged gang members are in custody in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old Alhambra man last year.

Pasadena police officials announced the arrests of Steven Fleming, 19, of Pasadena and Scott King, 19, of Palmdale Friday after charges were filed against the men in Pasadena Superior Court.

The men are accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Marvin Laguan as he talked with a friend on the evening of Aug. 22, 2011 in the 400 block of North Mar Vista Avenue, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.

"On (Wednesday), Pasadena police detectives and law enforcement personnel from the Unites States Marshals Fugitive Unit, California State Parol and the Glendale Police Department arrested (King and Fleming) for Laguan's murder," the statement said. "Both suspects have gang associations and the assault is believed gang-related."

Laguan himself was also believed to have gang ties, according to Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra.

In addition to Laguan's killing, the two men were charged with the attempted murder of the friend Laguan was speaking with when the gunman opened fire with six to eight shots, wounding Laguan in the neck, investigators said. The friend was not wounded.

Both men were also accused of the special allegation of committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and King was additionally charged with being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, police said.

The arrest in this case is another example of the diligent work conducted by the Pasadena Police Homicide Detectives," Police Chief Philip Sanchez said. "This case was very complex and required a great deal of investigation savvy, patience and determination."

Laguan's killing sparked concerns the in local community, where police held a community meeting in the days following the killing to discuss the investigation.

Sanchez pointed out that Pasadena's homicide detectives have an impressive track record.

The city saw seven homicides last year, police said. And other than the Dec. 27 fatal shooting of an Altadena man in the 100 block of Dearborn Street, which remains under investigation, all have been solved.

"I am most proud that the Pasadena Police Department has such a high solvability rate. This ensures that criminals who pose a threats to the safety of this community are taken off streets," Sanchez said.

King was being held in lieu of $4.1 million bail, and Fleming was being held in lieu of $3.04 million bail, officials said.

Both suspects were ordered to return to Pasadena Superior Court Feb. 29 for a hearing.