Suspect in Shooting Was Jail Escapee
An 18-year-old gang member arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting in Palmdale on Friday had escaped last month from juvenile custody after being convicted of murdering a Sylmar man, authorities said Thursday.
Andrew Perez of Sylmar was arrested shortly before midnight Wednesday at a Lancaster motel, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective John Kalita said. Perez is one of three men believed to have fired a number of shots Friday night at two cars they mistakenly believed carried rival gang members, Kalita said.
None of the three victims was seriously injured in the shooting, Kalita said.
Perez had escaped from the custody of a juvenile probation officer during a doctor’s visit at Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar on July 11, Kalita said. He was convicted in March of the murder of Juan Silva, 19, of Sylmar, said Los Angeles Police Detective Jay St. John.
Perez shot Silva in the head while the two were arguing about which of them sold the best cocaine, St. John said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
