East Valley : 2 Suspects Sought in April Homicide

Los Angeles police are looking for two reputed gang members as suspects in an April killing, and say one of the suspects is wanted for another homicide.

Detectives say Gustavo Reynasa Araiza, 19, of North Hollywood and Marco Antonio Ruiz, 23, also of North Hollywood, kidnapped a 16-year-old rival gang member in Pacoima in April and beat him to death in a park. Araiza six months later allegedly participated in a fatal drive-by shooting in North Hollywood.

“He’s one of the more active ones,” LAPD Det. Gil Uribe said of Araiza, calling him a “shooter” for a violent San Fernando Valley gang.

Araiza’s first alleged killing was of Rafael Marron, LAPD Det. Lillian Johnson said. Araiza and Ruiz jumped Marron in Arleta April 16 in retaliation for an attack on their gang, police said.

Araiza and Ruiz took Marron to a nearby park and beat him to death, then dumped his body on Dronfield Avenue between Art and Fenway streets, she said.

On Oct. 28, Araiza allegedly struck again. This time, Uribe said, the suspect was in a car that drove past Jorge Gonzalez. Shots were fired and Gonzalez was fatally wounded in the chest.

Police describe Araiza as a Latino, 5 feet, 8 inches, 140 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a chipped front tooth and “NFL” tattooed on his right shoulder. Ruiz is also described as Latino, 5 feet, 3 inches, 140 pounds, with brown hair and eyes and tattoos down both arms reading “Mexican Power.”