Image from CBS News
A ‘random murder spree’ occurred in Southeast Los Angeles County on February 11, 2024, from Sunday night through Monday morning. Cities such as Cudahy, Bell, Florence Graham, and Huntington Park were areas where two suspects left four victims murdered.
The murder spree occurred within a five-mile radius between each city in Los Angeles County and each shooting was reported to be a couple hours or minutes apart.
George Gascon, LA County District Attorney, declared that victims were targeted randomly. Detectives believe that the suspects of the crime were gang members or related to gangs.
On Sunday night, at about 10:30 PM, the first victim, Kevin Parada, a 24-year-old, was pronounced dead after paramedic arrival in the 6500 block of Bear Ave, according to the Bell Police Department. The murder was near Martha Escutia, an elementary school, in the city of Bell. The shooting caused the campus to close until Tuesday for safety concerns regarding the children.
A GoFundMe and vigil was created in honor of Kevin Parada, in the hopes of raising funds for funeral expenses. The vigil hosted on Tuesday, where 50 people gathered to mourn Kevin’s tragic death, was located in the same spot where he died.
On Monday, around 12:04 AM, the second shooting took place at the 1500 block of East Florence Avenue in a shopping center parking lot only 3 miles away from the Bell shooting, where the second victim was found and declared dead. The victim of this shooting has only been described as a man.
Later on, around 12:16 AM, the third shooting took place outside of Ellen Ochoa Learning Center at Oak Street in Cudahy. 4 miles away from the Florance shooting scene. Two teens, Javier Pedraza Jr, a 14-year-old, along with another adolescent were shot and suffered gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, Javier was pronounced dead, while the second victim survived after being hospitalized.
A GoFundMe page was created in honor of Javier Pedraza.
Around 1:55 AM, the last shooting occurred in the 6300 block of Sante Fe Ave in Huntington Park, 3 miles away from the Cudahy shooting scene. The fourth victim was a homeless man, who was walking down the street and was shot in the upper surface of his body. The man was found lying down the street and was pronounced dead. The name of this victim is being withheld by the medical examiner’s office.
Law enforcement officials were able to identify the suspects that were involved in the random murder spree with the use of security cameras. A red Honda SUV was found on each shooting site on security footage, which linked the crimes together to the suspects. Officials identified the license plate of the Red Honda SUV and concluded that the suspect was armed.
The linkage to the homicide that was identified with the car was Gary Garcia, a 42-year-old, and Timberland Wayne Mckeenly, a 20-year-old.
When detectives identified the vehicle they arrested the suspects on Monday, around 4 PM. Cops pulled over the vehicle in San Bernardino County, where they caught one of the suspects who was driving. The other suspect was identified by other investigative practices and was arrested at a house in Compton after a SWAT team searched the house.
Andrew Meyer, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Captain, exclaimed that Garcia has an extensive criminal record. Garcia will be charged with $8 million bail, while Mckeenly is held for $2 million bail according to booking info. Each suspect was charged with four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Detectives announced that there may be a third suspect involved in the crime. On Thursday night, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrested an unidentified juvenile suspect in Compton. There is an unclear role in how the suspect was involved and no other details were released.
The families and communities have been mourning the deaths of their people. On Thursday during a news conference, LA supervisor Janice Hahn declared that for the last four days, the Southeast LA community has been tormented.
“Families are grieving the loss of four innocent lives taken so violently in these drive-by shootings … The communities are shaken by the terror created by this senseless rampage, “ Hahn said.
Written by, Tanya Chavez Staff Writer