Teen Murder Suspect, 18 Gang Members Seized in Raids

The suspected teen-age triggerman in the dance hall slaying of a 16-year-old University High School student was arrested, along with 18 other members of a major street gang, in raids early Friday by 100 Los Angeles Police Department officers.

Sgt. James May of the department’s South Bureau Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) unit said the 7 a.m. sweep also turned up 20 handguns, shotguns and rifles, as well as six grams of heroin and two grams of cocaine.

Raids were made at 14 locations in South-Central Los Angeles and neighboring Inglewood.

Guns in Residences

There was only minor resistance, and no injuries were reported. Only one suspect was actually carrying a weapon; the other guns were found during searches of the residences.

Carolyn Jones, 37, identified as the sister of one of the gang members, also was arrested on suspicion of drug possession.

May said about 15 other members of the same gang have been arrested on a variety of other charges within the last 30 days. He said the gang, which he declined to name, has a total membership of between 150 and 200.

“It (the sweep) will cool this particular gang’s activities, at least for a couple of days,” the CRASH sergeant commented.

Suspected of Murder

Ten of the suspects picked up Friday were booked on suspicion of murder. The others--ranging in age from 15 to 25--were held on various weapons, drug and traffic counts.

One of the 10 was the 15-year-old boy who investigators believe fired the shot that killed Terrell Duggan outside a dance hall at 8th and Vernon avenues on Feb. 2.

Witnesses said they saw members of the gang invade the hall without paying at about 1 a.m. and then begin fighting with people on the floor before they were ejected by organizers of the event.

The fight continued outside the club. Witnesses told police Terrell was either just entering or leaving the club when he was hit in the head by a shot.

Witnesses’ descriptions of the gang members led to Friday’s raids, police said.