The strange and terrible saga of outlaw motorcycle gangs continues***

A motorcyclist who was shot to death on a freeway in Glendale may have been a member of the Montebello-based Mongols motorcycle gang, authorities said Wednesday.

The shooting occurred about 2 a.m. And the connector linking the 2 and the 210 was shut down for most of the morning, authorities said.

The death may be the latest chapter in a feud between the Mongols and the Hells Angels.

In early September, Hells Angels leader Mark “Papa: Guardado was shot to death in San Francisco’s Mission District. Christopher Ablett, a Modesto member of the Mongols is believed to be responsible for the slaying, according to witnesses.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

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Guardado was killed about a mile from the Hells Angels clubhouse on Tennessee Street, where he lived as head of what the group calls the Frisco chapter.

Police say murder charges were filed against Ablett in San Francisco earlier this week. He is considered armed and dangerous, and is being sought on a $5 million arrest warrant.

Homicide Inspector Karen Lynch declined to elaborate on a possible motive for the killing, other than to say Guardado and Ablett apparently argued on the street before the shooting.

Ablett is a freelance electrician who lives with his parents in a suburban neighborhood of Modesto.

* Ablett turned himself in to authorities in Oklahoma yesterday, according to the Associated Press:

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) – The man police think killed the leader of the San Francisco Hells Angels motorcycle gang last month surprised a smalltown police force in Oklahoma by turning himself in.
Bartlesville Police Chief Tom Holland says Christopher Ablett showed up to surrender Sunday.
A check of Ablett’s name and fingerprints turned up nothing tying him to any case in Oklahoma. He suggested they might want to expand their search, and that’s when a California warrant for his arrest popped onto the screen with a $5 million bond attached. Ablett told the officers, “That would be me.”
Holland says Ablett was “as polite as could be,” and not someone you’d think killed anyone.
Ablett is said to be part of a rival motorcycle gang fueding with the Hells Angels.

** The official Mongols Web site is here.

***The dead man has been identified as Manuel V. Martin, of Torrance or Venice. He was 30 years old.
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An arrest and an arraignment

Pasadena police reported this afternoon they’ve made an arrest in the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. The 20-year-old was shot to death outside a liquor store on Villa Street about 10 days ago. From the story:

 PASADENA — Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman in Pasadena last month.

Roberto Barajas, 30, of Pasadena was arrested today in connection with the death of Jennifer Ortega, who was shot in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Villa Street just before 10 p.m. on Aug. 19, Pasadena Police officials said.

Meanwhile the family of Albert Anthony Garcia, who (along with his father) was shot to death at a graduation party in Montebello, reports that Montebello resident Angel Sosa is facing arraignment in a downtown courtroom this afternoon in connection with the double homicide.

Sosa, a juvenile, is facing adult criminal charges, officials said.

 

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A letter from Albert’s mom

Willene Garcia, whose son Albert wsa shot and killed in Montebello on June 21, heard today that a juveniule suspected of involvement in the slaying has been arrested. Here’s a letter from Willene:

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Earlier today I received a phone call from the Chief advising the arrest of one suspect.  I was told a follow-up call would be placed to me later on today.
 
I’m very happy that they caught this guy. I’m curious to find out who he is and what he looks like.  I cannot wait to see him face to face.  I want him to know exactly what he has taken from me and my family.  Albert’s brother Dominic cries himself to sleep almost every night, and so do I.  Dominic started school this week and it was rough.  Usually Albert would give him a Pep-talk before starting school and he wasn’t there this time to do that. 
 
The thing I miss most about Albert is how loving he was.  He would tell me he loved me all the time and give me a big hug.  When I was sick he would be the one to take care of me.  He was like the little man of the house.

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One arrested in slaying of 12-year-old

Montebello police Chief Dan Weast called to say that officers have made an arrest in the double homicide that shocked the city over summer.

Twelve-year-old Albert Anthony Garcia and his father Juan were gunned down at a graduation party on June 21. Two others were injured in the shooting. Several weeks ago I wrote a column criticizing the Montebello PD for a lack of progress in the case.

Looks like they’ve proved me wrong.

 

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Suspect captured

11913-suspectMontebello-thumb-150x185.jpg “Edward Thomas Dewey, 21, of South Gate, was arrested early
Tuesday, July 8, 2008, in the City of Pico Rivera on suspicion of
fatally shooting 35-year-old Jose Luis Casillas of Downey at an
Independence Day gathering in Montebello on July 4, 2008.”
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Man killed in Montebello

The shooting death of a Montebello man on July 4, has generated some heartfelt interest from his family.

Here’s an excerpt from a letter I received this morning from the man’s cousin. We’re still waiting to confirm some of the details in the letter:

We are all still in shock and disbelief and as well confused of the
whole senario.  I found just a small article in the whittier daily
which stated that police were still investigating . . . but we were
told by police otherwise.  We have been assuming that the
purpretraters two males were arrested.  Please help us figure this
out and find closeure especially for the 3 teenage boys he leaves
behind.  I was wondering if you can continue on investigating this
story we are willing to go public if need be to find who did this.
We thought they were caught because that is what we were told.
Please help my cousin was a great man and father and deserves justice.

An excerpt from our story after the jump

Continue reading “Man killed in Montebello” »

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Father and son laid to rest

Twelve-year-old Albert Garcia and his father Juan were buried in Riverside Monday at a private ceremony.

Montebello police continue to badger the family about talking to the media, while they are apparently making little progress in their investigation. I received this note from a family member regarding police pressure in the case:

The cops told (the family) to not talk to the press because we were going to ruin the case.

I wonder if this is the sort police communication with citizens that Montebello’s new city council approves of?

 

 

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Montebello investigation update

On June 21, 2008 at 11:45 pm the Montebello Police Department received numerous calls of shots fired in the 100 block of East Madison Ave.  The incident took place at a residence that was hosting a graduation party.

During the party several individuals were involved in an argument that resulted in gun shots.  One group was invited guests and the other was not.  The preliminary investigation reveals that this crime appears to be gang related, however it is important to note that neither of the victims were involved in the confrontation nor members of the groups that were at odds. 

Juan Garcia 44 years old from Riverside County and Albert Garcia 12 years old also from Riverside County (father and son), succumbed to injuries that they received as a result of being shot.  Both received gunshots to their upper torsos.  A male adult was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound in the lower torso; a female adult was taken to Monterey Park Hospital for a gunshot wound to her arm.  The names of the adult victims are being withheld at this time.   

The preliminary suspect information is 2 to 3 male Hispanics, wearing light colored shirts and dark colored pants.  They were said to be between 15 and 20 years of age.  After the shots were fired, the suspect (s) fled on foot southbound on Poplar Avenue and out of sight.  Further information to follow when it becomes available. 

Montebello Police Detectives have worked this case around the clock and have interviewed many witnesses and are actively pursuing leads.  Montebello Police Chief Daniel Weast has met with the City Administrator and Members of the City Council, all of whom have pledged all available resources to identify, locate and apprehend the individuals responsible for this tragic incident.   

Montebello Police Crimes Against Persons Detectives are investigating this case.  Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Detective Ray Sulcer at (323) 887-1253 or Detective Kelly Gordon at (323) 887-1256

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The face of an innocent casualty

11207-albert-thumb-300x225.jpgHere’s the face of the boy who was shot to death at a backyard party in Montebello this weekend.

Albert Garcia, 12, and his father Juan were gunned down at a home on the corner of Madison and Poplar Saturday evening about 11:45 p.m., according to police.

In this picture Albert is third from left. He leaves behind a grieving mother and a 10-year-old brother.

 

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A grieving family left in wake of Montebello tragedy

This comes from the mailbag: (Sent by Chrisa Christy an aunt of Albert Garcia)

“Wait! Take a picture of my good side…”  

These were excited words from a vivacious, adventurous, 12 year old boy named Albert Garcia.  He loved his brother, Dominic, 10, and taught him all his best skateboarding tricks much to the weariness of his resilient mother, Willene Garcia.   

Albert, Dominic, and Willene have learned a lot about resilience in the past 8 years.  A single mother, Willene put herself through school to learn computers and eventually obtained a position with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

 
Trying to give her boys a better chance she moved away from the harsh reality of life in the city for a single mom and two young boys all the way to the East Coast.   

“You have to take a chance sometimes.  You never know.”  Willene watched her two boys play in the ocean that day, happy and content.  They didn’t seem to have a care in the world.  Two weeks after the sun filled day in the Atlantic Ocean, the Garcia family once again faced the smog and congestion of the city.   

The following weekend brought a reconnection with Albert and Dominic’s father, Juan Garcia, 44.  The boys had not seen their father in over a year.  With most of Juan’s family in Puerto Rico, Albert and Dominic were happy to spend the weekend with their father getting to know his life.   

Albert and Juan Garcia were shot Saturday night, June 21st 2008, while attending a Quinceaera in the 100 block of East Madison Street in Montebello, California. 

Sunday afternoon Willene Garcia was taken into a small room and shown a “picture” of young Albert Garcia for identification purposes.  He and his father, Juan were pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. on June 22, 2008 at Beverly Hospital.  

Funeral arrangements are currently scheduled for Albert Garcia to be buried on Friday, June 26 2008 in Riverside. 

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