Gang Violence Leaves 1 Dead and 5 Wounded

One man was killed and five others were wounded in gang-related shootings, authorities said Saturday.

Pedro Valdez Peralta, 33, of Huntington Park died when he was shot in his car at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday at a railroad crossing in the unincorporated Florence area of south Los Angeles. Two men walked up to the vehicle and opened fire, Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Wahla said.

Later in the day, the Rev. Carl Washington, a South-Central Los Angeles church leader, pleaded with gang members to stop their feuding during the holiday season. “A lot of (these gang members) have hearts and have their own children, just like everyone else,” Washington said. “Those children want to enjoy Christmas and should be able to without more blood.”

Two men were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Wilmington at 3:10 a.m., Police Sgt. Tony Rosa said. Elpidio Zavala, 27, and George Delgado, whose age was not known, were outside a building when a car stopped and a passenger with a shotgun fired once, Rosa said. Zavala was wounded in the left leg and Delgado suffered a hand wound.

Shot in Back, Left Leg

In South-Central Los Angeles, Henry Casares, 27, was shot in the back and left leg while standing with friends on a street corner about 1:30 a.m., Sgt. Larry Wehage said. The gunman, who fired several shots from a car, had shouted what sounded like a gang slogan, Wehage said. Casares was in serious condition at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center.

A 17-year-old gang member was arrested after he allegedly wounded a 15-year-old boy in another drive-by shooting, Lt. Frank Valdez said. The victim, listed in stable condition at Martin Luther King, was hit in the head by a pellet fired from a passing car at 8:25 p.m. Friday, Valdez said. The juvenile suspect was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Another shooting occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Friday, leaving Jaime Barrigan, 19, with a serious wound to the left side. Barrigan was hit by shots fired from a passing car, Wehage said.