Gang Member Arrested in Killing of Pacoima Boy, 10

A teen-age gang member was arrested Monday in the death of a 10-year-old boy who was shot and killed as he played with a group of children near Pacoima Park, Los Angeles police said.

The gang member, a 17-year-old Latino youth from Pacoima, was allegedly shooting at black gang members who had Sunday evening punched a 14-year-old Latino boy for wearing the colors of a rival gang.

The victim was identified as Alejandro Salazar, a fourth-grade student at Pacoima Elementary School. Alejandro, who lived near the park, was hit by a single bullet in the back of his head as he stood with a group of children on the street near the park about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, said Lt. Bernard Conine.

Boy Rushed to Hospital

A motorist who saw the shooting rushed Alejandro to Serra Memorial Health Center in Sun Valley, where the boy died about 11:10 p.m, police said.

No one else was injured in the shooting, although Detective Cliff Ruff said, “Any one of those kids could have been hit.

“It shows the insanity of the gang mentality that innocent children can’t even play in broad daylight without fear of some deranged person hurting them.”

Ruff said the shooting stemmed from a dispute that began in the 12800 block of Pierce Street when five black gang members, 18 to 20 years old, confronted three younger Latino youths who were not gang members. The black youths punched a 14-year-old Latino boy for wearing a red shirt. Red is a rival gang’s color, Ruff said.

Sources said the black youths were members of the Crips gang.

Ruff said the black gang members finally realized that the three younger Latino youths were not gang members and were leaving when the 17-year-old, who had not been involved in the fracas, fired two shots at their departing car. One of the shots struck Alejandro.

The youth was arrested at his Pacoima home without resistance Monday after being identified by witnesses, Ruff said. He was taken to Sylmar Juvenile Hall, and police said they would ask the Los Angeles County district attorney to file murder charges Tuesday.

Search for Gun

Monday, police with a search warrant looked unsuccessfully at the teen-ager’s house for a small-caliber handgun believed used in the shooting.

Annette Payne, a recreation leader at the Pacoima Recreation Center in Pacoima Park, said, “Some of my day-camp kids are missing today. Their parents are afraid to bring them.”

Pacoima Elementary School Principal Robert E. Owens said many parents came to pick up their children after school Monday instead of letting them walk home alone, as usual.

Owens said Alejandro’s teacher is “distraught.” Alejandro was “really a neat all-around boy,” the principal said.

One of Alejandro’s playmates, Jose Garcia, 10, said he has had bad dreams since the shooting, adding, “I feel sad. I feel strange without him around.”

Garcia said he is also frightened. “Maybe next time, it might be me,” he said.