Gang Member Suspects Arrested in Connection with Shooting of 6-Year-Old Boy

March 5, 2008

(UPDATE)

Los Angeles: Two men have been arrested in reference to an incident on March 4 in which a 6-year-old child was shot in the head: Ernesto Murillo, age 25, and Ismael Torres, age 26. The child was a passenger in an SUV that was moving through a Harbor Gateway neighborhood at Halldale Avenue and 227th Street when the shooting occurred, at approximately 12:30 p.m.

As the vehicle proceeded west on 227th Street, the suspects, standing in a yard, flashed gang signs at the victims as they drove by. After the victims passed the suspects’ location, the suspects fired several shots at their vehicle. One of the rounds passed through the vehicle’s back window and struck the 6-year-old in the head.

The vehicle had six passengers, three adults and three male children, including the child who was struck and the victim’s expectant mother. Help was summoned, and the critically wounded child was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

An immediate search of the area was conducted, but the suspects couldn’t be located. Later, with the assistance of police personnel from the Operations South Bureau Criminal Homicide Group, the immediate neighborhood was canvassed for evidence and witnesses. Due to cooperation from the community, both suspects were identified.

Working through the night, Harbor Area detectives obtained search and arrest warrants for the suspects, resulting in two warrants. SWAT and C Platoon of the Metropolitan Division served the search warrants around 5:30 a.m. this morning and were able to take both suspects into custody. Both suspects will be booked for attempted murder.

Photos of the suspects are being withheld because the investigation is still in progress. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Detective Rodriguez at 310-522-2036 or Harbor Area detectives 310-513-7133.