Press Conference to Announce the Arrest of Suspects Who Allegedly Shot Innocent Girl

"Press Conference to Announce the Arrest of Suspects Who Allegedly Shot Innocent Girl"
 
Who:
LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks, City Councilman Alex Padilla, other Los Angeles Police Department employees
What:
Press Conference to Announce the Arrest of Attempt Murder Suspects
When:
Monday, March 18, 2002 at 11:30 p.m.
Where:
LAPD Foothill Area Community Station, 12760 Osborne Street

Los Angeles: On Sunday, March 17, 2002, at approximately 4:30 PM, Foothill Patrol Officers were patrolling the 11100 block of Glenoaks Boulevard, Pacoima, when they observed a gang-related drive-by shooting in progress committed by two suspects in a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The suspects were shooting at several males standing in front of a house. As the officers broadcast the shooting and began chasing the suspects, they realized that the males in front of the house were returning gunfire toward the street at the suspects. Two vehicles containing nine innocent persons were hit by the return gunfire and three of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds. One of the three victims is a two-year old girl. She sustained a gunshot wound to the chin and fragments to the head. The other two victims are adults. They sustained minor injuries. The victims were transported to Holy Cross Hospital where the two adults were treated and released. The two-year old girl underwent reconstructive surgery and is in guarded condition.
The officers who witnessed the shooting pursued the suspects’ vehicle, after the suspects sped away from the scene. The suspects’ vehicle came to a sudden stop approximately four blocks away at Ralston Avenue and Pierce Street. The suspects fled on foot. The driver suspect, identified as Juan Lara, age 20, a resident of Pacoima, ran inside a house of another innocent victim who did not know Lara. That resident immediately ran out of her house and yelled at the pursuing officers that a stranger had just ran into her house. The officers surrounded the house and Lara subsequently surrendered without incident. A second suspect, identified as Rafael Macias, age 19, a resident of Pacoima, was able to successfully escape, however, he has been positively identified and is wanted for attempt murder.
Foothill gang officers immediately responded to the original scene of the shooting at 11100 block of Glenoaks Boulevard to assist the victims of the gunfire and to search for suspects and/or additional victims. The resident at the house provided officers with consent to search her residence and officers subsequently recovered a cache of 16 weapons, including four assault rifles. Additionally, evidence linking two suspects to the shooting which struck the innocent bystanders was obtained. Arrested at the scene for attempt murder were Ernesto Robles, age 21, and Ernesto Calvillo, age 22, both residents of Pacoima.
The three persons arrested were identified as documented gang members. The innocent witnesses involved requested anonymity due to the fear of gang reprisal. Several additional persons may have witnessed the shooting but may have left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival.
Anyone with information should contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Homicide Detectives at 818-834-3115 or 818-834-3102 during daytime hours. Weekends and during off-hours call the 24 hour toll free number at Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.
A photograph of the outstanding suspect along with the confiscated weapons will be available for viewing by the media.
Public Information Officer, Jack Richter, and Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586 prepared this press release.