Firebombing at L.A. housing project may be racially motivated

Police are trying to determine whether a firebombing at the Ramona Gardens housing project in Boyle Heights was racially motivated.

The arson counter-terrorism unit of the Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating the blaze, which occurred about 12:30 a.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Crusado Lane. No one was hurt.

LAPD sources said the victims were both black and Latino and that race was being considered as a possible motive because of previous racial tensions there.

LAPD Capt. Martin Baeza said detectives knew of no specific gang orders against anyone at the complex. He said the victims have been asked to leave the complex.

In 1992, the apartments of two African American families in Ramona Gardens were firebombed.

Last year, The Times wrote a story about how more African Americans were moving into Ramona Gardens and how some former Latino gang members were working to keep them safe.