Beatriz Santiago, 21

Beatriz Santiago, a 21-year-old Latina woman, was shot in a backyard in a burst of gunfire from an alley at 1401 W. 38th Street in LAPD's Southwest Division, and died just after midnight Sunday, Aug. 19. She was a student at UC Riverside, and was attending a birthday party with her brother, Roberto, 22, also killed in this double homicide (see post below).

Los Angeles Times story

Comments

[Your Friend]

HEY SWEETIE, JUST THOUGHT I LET YOU KNOW I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE KNOWN YOU SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUCK TOGETHER THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN AFTER. I PRAY TO GOD EVERY NIGHT THAT THOSE WHO HAD NO MIND AND NO HEART TO DO THIS WILL BE CAUGHT AND PAY FOR THEIR WRONG BEINGS. YOU AND YOUR BROTHER DID NOTHING WRONG, BUT TRY TO GET OUT THE BAD NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALL YOU WANTED FOR YOUR FAMILY. TODAY WE, YOUR FRIENDS, AND FAMILY HAVE KEPT OUR HEADS UP HIGH AND KEPT STRONG JUST LIKE YOU WERE. THIS TRAGEDY HIT US HARD, TWO AT ONCE. GOD ONLY KNEW A BROTHER CANT BE WITHOUT A SISTER. AND A SISTER CANNOT BE WITHOUT HER BROTHER. BOTH ARE NOW IN A BETTER PLACE WATCHING US FROM ABOVE, DOUBLING OUR PROTECTION. THANKS I SEND TO YOU AND YOUR BROTHER...LOVE U VERY MUCH AND MISS YOU TOO. REST IN PEACE...

[lolo]

Richard, below me, is right about outlawing guns. Are we the last country on earth that allows its people to own guns? The amendment that allows the ownership of guns is about 250 years old. I think its time to start thinking in the 21st century and start realizing that guns are part of the root of the problem. Simple equation: guns + bad people = innocent lives lost. bad people - guns = less lives lost.

[Richard]

Imagine the Jews having a loud party in Nazi occupied Germany. This is what is has come to people. The Gangbangers are the Nazis and you are the Jews. Moving out of that bad area is the only way to live a normal life. Moving out of this state is a lot easier than moving into another neighborhood due to the cost. Nebraska is a safe and cheap place to live. I am going to retire there if I don't get shot before retirement. I would vote to put anyone who shoots a gun in jail for 10 years mandatory. This would stop all this shooting. In Mexico you can't even own a gun yet here we are like the wild wild west with a gun store every other mile. Mexico sure looks good when something like this reminds us that the American dream is actually a friggin nightmare!

[Adela Barajas]

Mis condolencias para su familia, nuestras oraciones los acompañan, que El Espiritu Santo les conceda el descanso eterno para sus hios y Dios les de resignacion para enfrentar esta terrible tragedia. Unidos podran salir adelante

About 5 months ago we too has a very terrible tragedy in our family my sister-in-law (Laura Sanchez) was killed by a drive-by in front of her house as she was parking her car. I know the pain they are faced with of first hand. This is a pain that does not go away and it only gets worse if they don’t receive help. Christina, God bless you for being there with them at a time like this. For I know how hard it is for them to even try to think straight right now. You can help the family, I don’t know if they are receiving therapy of any kind but please let them know that they qualify for Victims Assistance through “VOC program”. It took me about 6 weeks to find by brother and the family some help. But I finally found a therapist who would come to their house where they could feel comfortable. I was able to arrange therapy for my brother and his 4 kids along with a Spanish therapist for my parents to help them deal with the tragedy. Maybe you can help them find one or if they like they can call Casa De La Familia, and speak with Grace; she is a very helpful person. (213) 485-0743 if they need a Spanish therapist.

If I may be of help you can e-mail me @ adbarajas@sbcglobal.net

Dios los bendiga.

Adela

[eric]

whats wrong with you guys in USA.

Only think with the Gun ore what?????

this is so sadly

[Precious]

Too young to pass on may you brother and sister rest in peace, so sad that we cannot enjoy life in a humbled way not causing any harm to anyone. We see the miserable ones envy Happiness, I hope and pray that these Demons on Earth are caught (should be executed hang them) and the 2 loved ones have justice brought to them so senseless. May god bless, give strength and mend the broken hearts of the Family left behind grieving their Loss in Jesus Name Amen.

[Beto Ramirez]

Angel,
What ever happend to Crash Unit??? I remember back in the day they would patrol the neighbrhood along with the Housing Authority police frequently... I'm not sure if that will make an impact on all these senseless murders, but I guess we'll never know.

[F. Castillo]

Wow what a tragedy, I wish to extend my condolences to the family of Beatriz and Roberto. I know you must have been very proud of your son and daughters accomplishments during their short lives. I hope the lord gives you strength during this difficult time. Que dios bendiga su familia.

I am sure there are many people who know who did this cowardly act , and will assist in providing justice for the family of Beatriz and Roberto.

[Angel]

CRASH unit anyone? I think it's time.

[Crystel Tse]

I send my condolences to Beatriz & Roberto's Family, friends and all that knew them. I too have experienced pain like this before. That is why I know for those affected by this tragedy the days will be long, and the nights even longer. So I send my prayers for peace and comfort, even if only for a moment. To help you through each sunrise and every sunset. The memories your mind won't seem to let you forget. Then one day your eyes will let the sun's light in, as you forever begin the healing within. The person who did this will die to a life of sin, on earth a jail cell is all they could ever win.

PEACE.

[Rick]

Unfortuanately we have cowards who will stand behind a closed gate and fire into a crowd of innocent people. You have to be very careful when hosting a party in some of these LA neighborhoods. It just does not take much to set some of these idiots off.

[Noe]

what a waste for some dumb **** to kill people for no reason at all. I hope the police catch these animals before they kill again. Rest assure that the Good Lord will punish these demons.

[MR. Pissed off]

This is horrible story no parent should have to live through this, I hope they find the animal that did this and lock him up with bobo. My codolence's goes out to the family god will make the finally judgement and your kids are in a way better place then here, where we have animals running wild. Now as for you people who says that you should not be parting after 2.a.m. I agree with you but its ashame that you can't have a party at your house to till 2.am without some low life thug coming to shoot up your party. And its just sad that you can't have a house party in L.A anymore, I was born in rasied in South Central L.A. But I had to move to be able to keep my son from being on this bulletin. I know crime happens everywhere but in L.A chance are greater. So parents if you have teenage kids move away the police and goverment are not going to be able to stop this you have to protect your own kids at all times even when your in your on home what is this world coming to.

[US Soldier]

This is exactly why I am moving my family away from Lost Angeles. I am a survivor of gang warfare in the 90's. I was shot 4 times and nearly died. I remember the anguish in my mother's face as I lay in the ER. I cannot imagine this mother's horrible nightmare. Words are futile and cannot assuage this family's anguish. Dios los bendiga. Mi oracion es para que El Espiritu Santo les conceda el descanso y la resignacion para enfrentar esta terrible tragedia.

I am the father of three small children...

[Vanessa Abner]

I just want to say that all of these problems with gang bangers and violence in Los Angeles needs to stop! I myself am a college student whose about to graduate next year and I worry sick each day & night as I commute back home from school to my hometown of Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles. You hear shots everyother day. Just this past month some individual got shot and killed two blocks away from my family's apartment at a Jack in a Box restaurant in broad daylight!
My mom worries sick as I get home sometimes late from work and school, but what can I do--I need to go to school and work. I don't understant why we have to live in fear each and everyday as if it were civil war in our streets. The government needs to recruit and hire more police officers, crack out on gang bangers, drug dealers and their affiliates and maybe enforce local policies such as school truancy and curfew hours. All I know is that SOMETHING needs to be done before there's another college student killed.

[Mark]

This is really sad but you have to be carefull if your in south LA. I am very familiar with the area and you cant be in house parties becouse gang members are all over the place and they will shoot into a croud and not think twice. How many people have been killed at a house parties this year the gangs in the area are violent and it happening in south LA a lot. You have to be very careful!

[ruben]

Sad Sad i can totally relate to this story may the brother and sister rest in peace...and i hope they catch these idiots who did it.

[Concerned]

I know this might seem like 20/20 hindsight, but anyone that is still partying at 2:30 am is just asking for trouble. The next best thing to do when a problem happens is bring the party inside, lower the music, and keep it lowkey. The best thing is to break it up and have everyone go home. There is nothing better than making sure that by being on the cautious side, everyone will be able to go home safely.

My condolences to the family. They sounded like 2 great kids.

[Christian Marroquin]

I happen to know Robert and his family since junior high, which was about 10 years ago. We established a very close and strong friendship bond with other students and did everything together throughout high school and after high school. We were in our high school jazz band, played sports together, and were also there to mourn the death of another close friend 3 years ago. We are shocked and saddened by the fact that we have lost a loved one who always spent time with his family,friends, and the right crowd in general. It is a very difficult time for the family who has lost a son and daughter and we have come together to raise money for their expenses. We are currently selling raffle tickets for a SONY VAIO laptop for $20 a ticket. Please respond to my e-mail address if you are interested. We will announce the winner at his former High School, Foshay Learning Center, during a talent show on August 30th, 2007. We appreciate the help that the family has received during the past several days and also thank those who have taken the time to read this article.
Christian Marroquin
marroquin_christian@yahoo.com

[Gabe]

Another party-related homicide, this time claiming two victims. How tragic this is. In no way should the victims or their families be blamed for what happened. But I think the story bears out what some of us have said before on this blog. Parties in high crime neighborhoods are extremely dangerous. In this case, we don't yet know a motive, but we know that party crashers were turned away earlier in the evening (a common thread in party-related homicides). We also know that the shooting happened at 2:30 in the morning. Again, these nice people had every right to continue their party into that hour of the morning, but I venture to say that their risk increased as it stretched into that late hour.

I'll say it again. Safety is probably maximized by keeping the party small, quiet, indoors, and without a lot of evidence outdoors that there is a party going on, including where your guests park their cars. Ending it early is a good idea. If people show up uninvited and are told to leave, it's a sign of real trouble. You don't know who they are or whether they will return and kill people. It's a reason to take the party somewhere else or call a halt to it.

I'm very sorry to the Santiago family for their terrible loss, a loss that again was in no way their fault.

[Beto Ramirez]

What a terrible terrible tragedy..... I did not know the victims, but something this ugly gives you the worst gut feeling! Some IDIOT is out there free while one Family is going through the toughest stages of their lives. I send my deepest condolences to Beatriz & Roberto's Family and anyone else affected by this event. No matter what happends, the person responsible will live the rest of their lives with GUILT and KHARMA creeping over their shoulder!