Suspected Gang Members Kill 1, Wound 1 in Attack

Suspected gang members opened fire on two half-brothers near Silver Lake, killing one and wounding the other, police said Monday

Richard Taton, 27, was killed and Rene Narvaez, 24, was wounded in the attack Sunday night at Melrose Avenue and Heliotrope Drive, said Los Angeles police spokesman Eduardo Funes.

The victims, who also were suspected gang members, had left a party at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in the 4300 block of Melrose when they were confronted by gang members about a block away, Funes said. When Taton and Narvaez tried to run back to the center, at least one gang member opened fire, he said.

Both victims made it back to the cultural center where they collapsed.

“They happened to have two rival gangs at the party who bumped into each other,” said Det. Andy Cicoria, who added that neither gang was from the Silver Lake area.

Taton was taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Narvaez was listed in fair condition at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Anyone with information can call Rampart Division detectives at (213) 207-2060.