7 arrested in raids on 44 locations

Authorities raided 44 locations in the eastern San Gabriel Valley in a gang sweep Friday night, arresting seven suspects and collecting items possibly related to three recent gang-related killings in and around Monrovia.

In all, 14 law enforcement agencies were involved in the raids in Monrovia, Duarte and surrounding areas, as well as San Bernardino County, Monrovia police reported Saturday.

The sweep followed a spate of gang-related shootings that has led to the deaths of three people, including a 19-year-old Latina and a 64-year-old black man believed to be bystanders. The shootings have shaken residents, some of whom worry that the violence was racially motivated.

“All 44 places that we hit have a nexus to the gangs that were involved,” said Lt. Michael Lee of the Monrovia Police Department, which coordinated the raids.

The seven suspects were arrested for parole and probation violations, and such charges as resisting a police officer. The raids also produced three firearms, caches of methamphetamine and marijuana, two stolen vehicles and what police called “several items of evidentiary interest” related to the recent shootings.

-- Deborah Schoch