Public Aid Sought in Double Murder Prosecution
There has been an arrest in the case of two Highland Park boys who were shot and killed in Piedmont Park on March 13th. Authorities have arrested an 18-year-old and charged him with two counts of murder in California with the special circumstance of multiple murders, according to a published report in LA Times online.
The arrests come after 4 months of investigations following the tragic shootings. According to authorities, someone from the community had stepped forward and accused the teen, a documented member of the Dogtown gang whose street monikers include the name "Shorty."
The shootings occurred when the two boys, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, were walking home from Piedmont Park near the Highland Park Recreation Center. A gang member confronted them, which lead to an altercation. That is when the gang member called for help. Homicide Det. said another gang member ran to the scene and then pulled a handgun and shot the two boys.
Although authorities have someone in custody, they need more individuals to come forward to insure prosecution. Commanding officer of the northeast police division was quoted as pleading with the public:
"Many people saw this crime, many, many. We would like them to come forward," he said. "Please help us get a conviction on this man for this heinous crime," he said. "Let's put him away for a long time, if not forever."
Law states that: Any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and who willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, or two or three years.
What this means for those accused of gang crimes in Los Angeles is that anyone convicted of those crimes faces harsher punishments than normal. This is why it’s so important to contact an experienced violent crime defense attorney in Los Angeles at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf if you have been accused of any of these crimes. Their skilled attorneys will know how to mount a persuasive defense, insuring that your rights under the law are protected at all times.
