(ALL THESE ARE LOCAL TO MY LAME SUBURBAN TOWN)
Benjamin Velasco, 18
Died July 29, 2007 at 2:17 a.m.
Benjamin Velasco, 18, a Latino young man, was killed in the same double-homicide that also killed 21-year-old Julio Ramirez in Paramount. Velasco was shot at least once in the incident at 15323 Hayter Ave. He died at 2:17 a.m. Sunday, July 29.
The pair were shot by drive-by gunmen as they were standing outside a family gathering in the 15300 block of Hayter Avenue in Paramount at about 11 p.m. Saturday, July 28, said Sheriff's Det. Todd Anderson. Investigators believe the suspects may be Latino men or youths. They escaped in their car. Both victims were transported to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where Velasco died at about 2 a.m. Sunday; Ramirez died five hours later. Ramirez had recently gotten out of jail.
Police are seeking help, including anonymous tips, from anyone who saw anything that night. Call Anderson or Det. Gary Sika at (323) 890-5500.
Update: Sheriff's Det. Todd Anderson and Gary Sika have cleared this case.
Three men — Luis Rodriguez, 24, a Latino man; his brother, Daniel Cowie, 19, and a friend, Irvin Heredia, 19, also Latino — were arrested this week and charged with murder in the deaths of Ramirez and Velasco. "Gangs. Gang rivalry," was the motive, Anderson. "One gang is trying to muscle into another's territory, basically."
Another case was also cleared in the course of this one. Rodriguez has been charged in the killing of Salvador Avila, 19, at a fight at a Tam's restaurant in Paramount on June 24. A second suspect was also arrested in connection with that case. More to come.
Salvador Avila Jr., 19
Died June 24, 2007 at 2:00 a.m.
Salvador Avila Jr., 19, suffered multiple gunshot wounds at 8454 Alondra Blvd. in Paramount, and died at 2 a.m. Sunday, June 24.
According to Sheriff's Det. Ray Lugo, Avila was a high school graduate from Compton who had just gone to the local Tam's that night for some food. A friend he was with got into a fight with other Latino men at the Tam's, and was knocked unconscious. Avila went over—not to fight—but to help his friend, Lugo said. He tried to pulled the unconscious man of the ground and get him to a car. As he was doing so, he was shot.
Update: Sheriff's homicide detectives Lugo and Sgt. Joe Ramirez have cleared this case. Arrested were Luis Rodriguez, 24, and Adrian Chavez, 27, both of whom fought with the friend. Rodriguez, who prosecutors say was the shooter, is also charged in a double murder in Paramount.
Chavez and Rodriguez were identified as suspects in the Avila case about two days before Rodriguez is suspected to have killed the additional victims of the Paramount double murder. Police had Rodriguez in their sites—internal flyers had circulated in station houses about him—but deputies were not able to find him in time. He is accused of murdering Julio Ramirez and Benjamin Velasco on July 28, a little more than a month after Avila's murder. He was caught a few days after that, now with three suspected murders in his wake.
Randy Walls, 18
Died Oct. 27, 2007 at 7:24 p.m.
Randy Spencer Walls, 18, a black young man, was shot about 9:34 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at 9206 Park Street in Bellflower. Severely injured, he struggled in the hospital to survive and died Oct. 27 at 7:24 p.m.
Sheriff's Det. Joe Sheehy said a Latino man or youth came up behind Walls and shot him at close range — perhaps from about 10 feet away. Walls was a high-school graduate, he said.
Anyone with information, including anonymous tips, is asked to call Sheehy at (323) 890-5500.
Jacob Walker, 15
Died Jan. 21, 2007 at 7:25 a.m.
Jacob Walker, a 15-year-old black male, was shot at 8572 Park St. in Bellflower and died at 7:25 Jan. 21.
Police allege that his 24-year-old brother took him along on a burglary and that they broke into a house to steal marijuana plants that were purportedly used for medical reasons. The burglary victim came across them in the backyard and fired shots as they fled, killing the boy. Prosecutors are weighing whether the shooting was self-defense.
Roketi Mosesue, 46
Died May 17, 2008 at 7:50 p.m.
Long Beach: Roketi Su`e, a 46-year-old Samoan man, was shot and
killed by police officers in the 3400 block of East 67th Street about 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17. He was taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
According to a Long Beach police statement, officers responded to several calls from residents in the neighborhood about a man who was acting violently and erractically. When they arrived at the scene, officers saw Su`e and tried to arrest him, police said. The officers were then involved in a "physical altercation" with Su`e, according to the statement. The officers used their batons to gain control of Su`e but were unable to. Fearing for their lives, one of the officers shot Su`e multiple times in the torso, the statement said. Shortly after the shooting, officers were confronted by at least 40 people. Additional units arrived to assist the officers, and police were able to take control of the situation, according to the statement. Police said the L.A. County coroner's office will determine whether Su'e was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone with information about the incident can call Long Beach homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244. Above: A family photo of Roketi Su`e
Lashaun Menifee, 28
Died Sept. 2, 2007 at 12:38 a.m.
LaShaun Menefee, 28, a black woman, was shot at a Chevron station at 8504 Artesia Blvd. in Bellflower and taken to a Lakewood hospital, where she died at 12:38 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2.
She had gone to the crowded gas station, and stopped by the mini-mart to buy something, said Sheriff's Lt. Larry Lincoln. As she was walking back to her car, a champagne-colored, mid-sized car drove by southbound on Downey, and a black man or youth inside fired five to eight rounds into the crowd.
Menefee was almost to her car; she was struck once in the torso. Companions drove her to Lakewood Hospital.
