Gang Member Arrested for Murder

Los Angeles: On November 22, 2002, at approximately 9:30 a.m., West Valley Area Detectives arrested the suspect involved in the September 14th shooting death of a 15 year-old Canoga Park boy. Following the early morning service of search warrants at several locations in the West San Fernando Valley, homicide detectives took 20 year-old Pablo Adolfo Garcia, a gang member, into custody at his Canoga Park home.
Garcia shot and killed Rene Torres, a member of a rival gang, at a party in the 7500 block of Irondale Avenue in Canoga Park. Garcia entered the back yard of the home where a party was being held and approached several teenage partygoers, asking them if they were from a gang. When he approached Torres, who was sitting at a table, Torres rose to his feet and responded by proudly naming his gang. Garcia then shot him in the chest several times with a large caliber revolver, then fled on foot. Witnesses to the incident provided the police with clues to Garcia’s identity and he was later identified as the killer.
Garcia is being held on $1,000.000.00 bail at the Van Nuys Jail. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office next week.
For further information, contact West Valley Homicide Unit at 818-756-8546.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.