Arleta man shot and killed

Ryan Carter and Laura Sturza

SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- As helicopters hovered overhead, police

searched a shallow wash and found the body of a 19-year-old Arleta man

Wednesday night, police said.

The victim, Carlos Chavez, was pronounced dead at the scene, in the

200 block of West Spazier Avenue, after receiving multiple gunshot wounds

to his body, said Burbank Police Sgt. Jose Duran.

Several witnesses surrounding the crime scene on the night before

Thanksgiving, said that they had heard six to seven shots fired and then

saw the victim and one other person running down to the wash, or storm

drain, that runs parallel to Verdugo Boulevard.

Police were called to the scene at approximately 6:15 p.m. and found

Chavez’s body; however, no weapons were found near the crime scene. No

suspects were taken into custody.

“We have no clues at this point,” said Burbank Police Det. Chris

Racina.

Chavez allegedly belonged to a Burbank street gang. He grew up in

Burbank before moving to Arleta, Racina said.

Residents in the area voiced concerns about rival gangs living in the

same neighborhood. Some residents said that there are frequent parties,

and some said that they sometimes hear the echo of gunshots at night.

Carissa Granados, 19, who has lived in the neighborhood for several

years, said that she heard the gunshots that had killed Chavez.

“The cops pretty much handle it,” Granados said. “It hasn’t been like

this in a long time.”

Granados also said she knew Chavez from when they attended school

together.

“It’s terrible. He’s only 19,” she said.