2 Held in Killing During Drug Deal
Two suspected gang members were in custody Saturday on suspicion of fatally shooting a 22-year-old Duarte man during a drug deal in Sun Valley that went awry, Los Angeles police said.
James Zink died from a gunshot wound in the chest Friday night at Saint Joseph Medical Center, where he was taken by his brother, said Sgt. Phil Butler.
Javier Moreno, 19, of Pacoima, and Maximilian Chavez, 18, of North Hollywood, were arrested Friday and were being held at the department’s North Hollywood station, he said.
The shooting occurred at the 12000 block of Runnymede Street, near Laurel Canyon Boulevard, where investigators said they believe James Zink and his brother were trying to make a narcotics purchase, Butler said.
A dispute erupted during the drug buy and one of the men shot James Zink, who was in the passenger’s seat of a car, he said. Christopher Zink, 32, drove his brother to the hospital, Butler said.
When police officers arrived to investigate, they saw several suspected gang members run from the scene, he said. Police arrested six men, and after interviews determined that Moreno and Chavez were involved in the shooting.
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