3rd Teen-Ager Arrested in Slaying of Girl, 12, Outside Youth Club

A 17-year-old gang member from Inglewood has been arrested on suspicion of killing Tiffany Dozier, a Pacoima girl shot outside a youth club dance less than three weeks ago, Los Angeles police said Wednesday. He was the third suspect arrested.

Officers served a search warrant at the youth’s home at 7 a.m. Tuesday, police said. Police arrested the youth, whose name was not released, and confiscated a pistol that they believe was used in the Jan. 9 shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club in Pacoima.

Two suspects from North Hollywood--Tremayne Stevenson, 19, and a 16-year-old youth--were arrested Jan. 11. All are being held without bail.

“We’re confident that we’ve solved the case,” Deputy Police Chief Mark A. Kroeker told reporters outside the Foothill Station. Police are not looking for any other suspects, he said.

Authorities plan to try the 17-year-old as an adult, Kroeker said. Police are seeking charges of attempted murder against the youth, with the special added charge that he used a gun in the slaying.

Authorities did not disclose which youth is accused of actually pulling the trigger in the shooting.

Tiffany, a seventh-grader at Maclay Middle School, was standing with other youths and waiting for a ride home in front of the club about 12:30 a.m. when a fight started, police said.

Gang members drove by in a dark Cadillac and shot into the crowd, hitting the 12-year-old girl once in the upper body, police said. She died at the scene.

A string of anonymous tips from gang members and other witnesses led police to all three suspects, Kroeker said.

Police would not say whether the fight at the club occurred between members of rival Inglewood and North Hollywood gangs. But Detective Marsh White--one of 15 detectives and officers who investigated the killing--said the Inglewood youth knew the two other teen-agers who were arrested.

“Information trickled down to them that there was a party there,” White said.

Lt. Stella Mattson said it was not unusual that the youths traveled to Pacoima from Inglewood and North Hollywood. She said Foothill officers often find gang members from other parts of Los Angeles in the area.