4 Teens Held in Pacoima Beating Death

Four teen-age gang members have been arrested in the beating death of a Pacoima man, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Melvin Dee Reaves, 22, was punched and kicked to death early Tuesday in a parking lot in the 12700 block of Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima, Lt. Bernard D. Conine said.

Reaves, who was not believed to be a gang member, apparently was walking past a group of six to 10 youths shortly after midnight when he exchanged hostile words or looks with them, Conine said. The dispute led to a fight in which he was overpowered and beaten, Conine said.

“It was just punk kids beating up on a guy they didn’t like,” Conine said. “It was a brutal beating.”

Two of the suspects are 15 years old and two are 17. They were being held in Sylmar Juvenile Hall pending a detention hearing next week, Conine said.

Three of the boys, all residents of the nearby Pierce Park Apartments, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder, the lieutenant said. The fourth surrendered to police Friday afternoon, Detective Jim Vojtecky said.

Detectives also were trying to determine whether more youths were involved in the beating, Vojtecky said.

Reaves was found partly clothed. After beating him, the youths apparently tore his pants off to get his wallet, Conine said.