2 Gang Members Held in Youth’s Slaying

Two teen-age gang members were arrested Saturday as suspects in the drive-by slaying of a 17-year-old Compton boy who police said was the victim of an ongoing battle between two gangs.

The victim, Angel Pinales, was standing in his front yard in the 1700 block of West 151st Street about 8:20 p.m. Friday when he was hit by one of a hail of bullets fired from a rental van, Compton Detective John Swanson said. Pinales died at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center.

Swanson said two gang members, ages 16 and 14, are being held on suspicion of murder in the shooting. After questioning, they were to be moved to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.

Swanson said Pinales lived in the neighborhood controlled by the 155th Street gang, but it was not known whether he was a gang member. The 155th Street gang and another gang, which Swanson declined to name, have been involved in at least three shootouts since June.

There were injuries in the earlier incidents, Swanson said, but Friday’s was the first fatality.