4 Held in Shooting Death of Child, 3

Four San Fernando Valley gang members suspected of fatally shooting a 3-year-old boy after instigating a fight with his uncle were arrested in the child’s slaying, police said Thursday.

Three men and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody after police served arrest warrants at five apartment buildings in Lake View Terrace, Van Nuys and Panorama City in connection with the May 9 killing of Alfredo Cardenas Jr.

Booked on suspicion of murder were Juan Ayala, 18, Jose Jimenez, 20, Luis Rodriguez, 21, and a 17-year-old juvenile whose name was withheld because of his age, said Los Angeles Police Department Det. Al Aldaz.

The three men, who are being held on $1-million bail each at the Van Nuys jail, could be charged with the killing as early as today. The minor’s case will be handled in Juvenile Court.

Police continued to search late Thursday for a fifth man, identified as 20-year-old Jesus Delasancha, who authorities said is believed to be hiding out in the Antelope Valley. All suspects are believed to be Blythe Street gang members, police said.

Recalling the events that led to his son’s death, Alfredo Cardenas Sr. broke down while staring at a picture of the boy posing with his birthday cake.

The arrests “will help a little,” the father said, with tears welling in his eyes. “But it won’t bring back my son.”

The arrests culminated a two-week investigation that relied on the boy’s relatives to help identify the suspects, detectives said.

“They knew the suspects and recognized them from the neighborhood,” Aldaz said. “But they were not intimidated and were willing to put their lives at risk to make this case.”

Police and relatives said the shooting was preceded by an argument between the boy’s aunt and uncle, who were yelling at and shoving each other in an open area in the 14700 block of Blythe Street in Panorama City.

Two men walked over to the couple and were joined by three other men who allegedly objected to the way the boy’s uncle was treating the aunt.

After an exchange of words, the suspects allegedly attacked the uncle, pulled a gun and fired, hitting the little boy in the chest as he walked nearby, Aldaz said.

Since the shooting, many residents said they have started keeping their children behind the locked iron gates of their apartment complexes.

“I’ve always been afraid that one of my children would get hurt just by standing outside the apartment,” said resident Maria Torres. “I felt bad for the family. No parent should have to go through what they went through.”

Torres said neighbors have been reluctant to report crimes out of fear for their safety.

About a month ago, she said, a group of gang members pulled a knife on her husband and demanded money just outside their Blythe Street apartment. The gang members stole his gold chain and medallion, but she said neither she nor her husband reported the incident to police.

“We have to live here,” she said. “We don’t know if they would have come back to get us. It’s not worth your life over a chain.”

The shooting death of Alfredo Cardenas Jr. was a setback to the area’s attempts to improve its image over the last decade, said Maritza Varela De Artan, director of Casa Esperanza, a community social services organization.

“It’s very frustrating when something like this happens,” Artan said. “But we’ll continue fighting to improve this neighborhood.”