Three Innocent Youths Gunned Down, Two Die

 
Los Angeles: On Wednesday, December 12, 2001, at approximately 8:15 p.m., three young men walking on the sidewalk near 807 East Manchester Avenue were confronted and shot by five suspected gang members.
While two of the victims were mortally wounded and died from the attack, one of the men survived, suffering a gunshot wound to the neck.
Surviving Victim Estaban Ortiz told Los Angeles Police Homicide Detectives that he and his younger brother, Arturo Ortiz, were walking with a friend when the five men approached them. "Who you with?" said one of the confronting males. Estaban Ortiz said he told the suspects that they were not active in any gang. At that point, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and began firing at them. 21 year-old Estaban Ortiz was shot once and fell to the ground. Estaban’s 19 year-old brother, Arturo, and 18 year-old Jesus Silva were both shot in the upper torso and died as a result of their wounds.
The suspects fled on foot from the scene and there were no witnesses available.
Anyone with further information should contact LAPD 77th Street Homicide Division at 213-485-1385 during business hours. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.