Tagging crews, graffiti clean-up and deaths

A graffiti program brought about after the deaths of several residents, including Pico Rivera resident Maria Hicks , who was shot and killed when she caught taggers in her neighborhood, will allow the county to recover costs for graffiti clean-up.

The county approved the program today, and it will become effective Sept. 18.

The new ordinance allows the county to declare itself a "graffiti victim" and recover costs for graffiti abatement -- including enforcement, removal and damages.

The County can recoup unpaid costs through liens or special assessments against the property of the graffiti offender or guardian of offending minor.

Adult graffiti offenders are subject to a civil citation issued by the Sheriff for fines up to $1,000.

The new Ordinance expands Supervisor Gloria Molina's graffiti enforcement program which resulted in 168 arrests.

But tagging related deaths continue. On July 23, Joshua Rodriguez was shot dead in South Whittier at Mulberry Drive and Ruoff Avenue.

WHITTIER - Homicide detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying and tracking down three men involved in a July 23 shooting that left a La Mirada man dead.

While authorities said the incident was triggered by a fight between rival tagging crews the day before, 20-year-old Joshua Rodriguez wasn't a tagger.

Sheriff's Lt. Dan Rosenberg said they don't know why Rodriguez was involved in the fight.

What detectives know is that on July 22 there was a clash near a local wash between the tagging crews, My Squad Murder Krew and Potheads. Rosenberg said the groups agreed to meet the next day at Mulberry Drive and Ruoff Avenue in South Whittier.

"Our victim, Rodriguez, got in a fight with somebody. He was actually winning," Rosenberg said.

But he said two friends of the man fighting with Rodriguez approached. One of them shot him several times

Authorities said that Rodriguez wasn't a tagger. I shot these photos of Rodriguez's shrine, which included writing comments with a Sharpie on the sidewalk.