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.