Tip Leads to 3 Arrests in Slaying

Three alleged gang members were arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder in the April 7 shooting death of a North Hollywood man as he walked home from a neighborhood store.

Los Angeles police booked Rafael Gonzalez, 21, Rodolfo Leon, 20, and a 16-year-old boy, all of North Hollywood, in connection with the killing of Luis Espinoza Ochoa, 28. The teenage suspect’s name was withheld because he is a minor.

The City Council authorized a $25,000 reward for information in the case Tuesday at the request of Councilwoman Wendy Greuel after police said they believed it would help solve the slaying. A tip from a citizen led to the arrest.

“We’re still looking for witnesses and information, and the reward is still active and available,” Det. Martin Pinner said Thursday.

“We think there is at least one witness to the murder who has yet to come forward,” he said.

Police say the suspects are members of a North Hollywood street gang and live within half a mile of Vanowen Street and Agnes Avenue, where Ochoa was shot several times in the upper torso.

He had gone to a liquor store to buy beer, according to family members.

The detective said Ochoa was not a gang member and worked full time for a local moving company. He is survived by a 3-year-old son.

Detectives believe Ochoa was involved in a minor verbal dispute with one of the suspects sometime before the shooting.