4 Charged in Suspected Torrance Gang Shooting

Four suspected gang members have been booked on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of two North High School students.

The four suspects, three of whom are 17, -were arrested at several locations in Los Angeles County after an extensive investigation of the shootings, which took place last month as the victims were sitting inside the bedroom of a north Torrance home.

Richard Castelo Victorino, 18, was arrested at his Glendora home Sunday afternoon, Sgt. Ron Traber said. He is the only adult arrested and was being held without bail in Torrance City Jail.

Police would not release the names of the other three suspects, who were arrested at their homes in Carson, Torrance and West Covina, because they are minors. They are being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.

The 16-year-old shooting victims were listening to music in the bedroom of a home in the 16900 block of Eastwood Avenue on Dec. 29 when they were injured by bullets from as many as three weapons, Traber said.

One boy required emergency surgery after a bullet struck him in the neck. The other boy suffered a gunshot wound in a leg. Both are expected to recover.

In an interview, the boy wounded in the leg insisted that he and his friend are not gang members and that they do not know what prompted the attack.

But investigators, who speculate that the victims either were members of a rival gang or were trying to get out of a gang they had joined, say the four suspects are all members of a gang that has a faction in Torrance.

The victims requested that their names not be published to protect them from further injury.