2 are killed during moratorium

At least two people were fatally shot Saturday, breaking a 40-hour symbolic “murder moratorium” called for by civil rights activists to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

A man, 41, was struck in the upper body about noon in the 2000 block of East 105th Street as he sat on his front porch. He later died at a hospital. The killing may be gang-related, officials said.

In another suspected gang-related shooting shortly after noon, a man, 31, was struck as he stood in an alley in the 1400 block of West 38th Street, police said. He also was pronounced dead at a hospital. The victims’ names were withheld, pending notification of relatives. The assailants in both cases remained unknown.

The moratorium to promote peace, justice and nonviolence began at 6:01 p.m. Friday, 40 years to the minute after King was assassinated in Memphis. It is to run through 10:01 a.m. today.

-- Richard Winton