Suspect Held in Fatal Shooting Near Carnival
A 21-year-old gang member has been arrested on suspicion of shooting to death a teenage boy and wounding another last Sunday night outside a Jefferson Park neighborhood carnival, police said.
Jason Walton was apprehended after witnesses identified him as the gunman in the shooting of 14-year-olds William Cox and Edward Williams, police said. Cox died at the scene, but Williams was expected to make a full recovery.
Walton allegedly shot the two boys after mistaking them for gang rivals outside the carnival at 2nd Avenue and Rodeo Road. Neither victim was a gang member.
“Thanks to cooperative witnesses and hard-working detectives, we were able to make a quick arrest,” said Capt. James Craig of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division. “I’d like to acknowledge the public and the media’s contribution to solving this murder. We must all continue to beat the drum against violence and gang activity.”
Officers from an anti-gang unit at the Wilshire police station arrested Walton on Wednesday night after spotting him near the 5000 block of Pico Boulevard.
Det. Stacey Szymkowiak said the case would be presented Monday to prosecutors. She said detectives were still seeking information from witnesses.
Walton is being held in lieu of $1-million bail.
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