3 Arrested in Death of Man Who Tried to Prevent Theft

Police have arrested three of four youths suspected in the April 2 killing of a North Hollywood man trying to prevent the theft of a neighbor’s pickup truck.

Authorities arrested a 16-year-old alleged to have fired the shots and a 17-year-old companion at a home in North Hollywood early Wednesday, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Ron LaRue. Another suspect, also 16, was arrested on a North Hollywood street Tuesday night, LaRue said.

The youths, who were booked on suspicion of murder, were being held without bail at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, LaRue said.

Darris Garvin, 37, was shot at Troost Avenue and Burbank Boulevard while chasing four youths, who had fled when Garvin drove into the garage of the apartment complex in the 5600 block of Colfax Avenue where he lived, Detective Mike Coffey said.

Garvin chased the youths for about a block when one fired a handgun, police said. Garvin, who was struck in the stomach, stumbled into a convenience store to seek help; he died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank about two hours later.

“He was just an innocent good Samaritan,” LaRue said. “It wasn’t his property that he was trying to prevent from being stolen . . . and he ends up paying the ultimate price. He had his life snuffed out by a 16-year old kid.”

Police said they hope to arrest a fourth juvenile soon. He is from the same North Hollywood neighborhood near Burbank Boulevard and Vineland Avenue where the other youths live, police said.