Noel Velazco, 26

Noel Velazco, 26, a Latino man, was killed in a drive-by shooting about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, in the 800 block of W. 43rd St. near Vermont Avenue. The death in the LAPD's Southwest Division took place at 9:56 a.m. The suspects were described as three Latino men or youths in a gray Buick Regal.

In the days after his death, family members remembered him for his outsized personality, easy friendships and ears that stuck out. He had grown up in Los Angeles and was the father of three. Detectives called this a gang homicide. But Velazco also had a life as working man. He had a job as a house painter.

His twin brother Joel Velazco was also murdered about six years ago, the family said. His parents now have only one remaining son. "After this pain, we can lose nothing else," said his mother, right. She had to be hospitalized from stress after losing the second of her three sons to homicide. "God is in charge. Only he is in charge," she said. "I just ask God that the violence end."

Comments

[Jana]

How can anyone read through the list of victims, and NOT think gun control is needed? Nearly all the homicides resulted from use of a gun.

[WASET]

Because gun control would only affect the law abiding citizens. You think killers are concerned if there is a ban on handguns?

[b real]

gun control? we already have gun control. california has some of the toughest laws. gun control is just a way for politicians to get your vote, not to help this situation. if we didnt have guns this homicide log would be just as long as it is now. i would agree with maybe drugs play a larger role in whats happening to our kids. my brother was murdered by some idiot that decided to take his life, not once have i ever blamed the gun that killed him, i blame the person who decided to take his life. look at it this way the old man in Santa Monica killed all those people with a vehicle should we outlaw cars?

[Beto R.]

Waset,
Your right, the killers will not be concerned if guns were banned or anything of that nature. There will always be a weapon supplier who some how gets a hold of guns on our streets, although I personally think there will be a significant drop in murders if guns are banned.

[b real]

beto r, in mexico guns are outlawed does it really make a difference nope

[Beto]

Real.....are you kidding me! we're talking a whole different ball game when you compare the crime rate to Mexico and the States.

[b real]

making knives,guns,cars and anything that anyone can use to kill another human being ilegal would really reduce the amount of murders.sure people will just find another way to kill each other. poverty and drugs are one of the major reason people just stop caring about life, murder is no big deal in south central compton watts where every person is dirt poor but dont let someone get murdered in oc and its all over the paper and they really investigate and some how they catch the killer. NEVER IN COMPTON

[Travis]

I think the only way to reasonably determine whether or not gun regulations should be reduced is by comparing case studies and statistics in places where guns are hard to get to places where guns are easy to get. Basing our policies on theories will get us into trouble.

[syscom3]

Well what do you know, this guy was implicated in the drive by shooting of another person shortly before he himself was gunned down.

Karma!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/youths-get-50-years-in-driveby-shooting-advocates-protest-sentence.html

[crazy]

well that suck because they kill my uncle noel velazco and they never got that guy who kill him and that not right because he was a gangster they never care about them but no matter what we all have him in our hearts and our payer miss u noel always thinking about u and for the guy that got 50 year for nothing that they didnt do that not cool there guy that kill people and they only get 15 or 20 year and now that the guy they dont do nothing they get 50 year sorry for the guy we be here for u,. thank you by crazy

[CONNIE]

I NO THATS MY KIDS DADDY WAS GREAT PERSON AND HE DIDNT DESERVE TO DIED THIS AWAY SO I DONT CARE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAY OR THINKING ABOUT HIM RIP EL CUATE WE LOVE YOU BABY AND MY KIDS MISS YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU 43PL

[syscom3]

crazy, so will you confirm to us all that he was a gangster?

[LULU]

WE MISS YOU NOEL YOU WERE THE BEST UNCLE EVER ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR GONE WE SIT AND THINK ABOUT YOU A LOT AND STILL CANT BELIEVE THAT YOUR GONE WE MISS YOU A LOT TIO.WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS SOME DAY IM GONE BE WITH YOU AND WE ARE GONNA BE TOGTHER AGAIN I MISS YOU SO MUCH

R.I.P CUATE
YOUR BEING MISSED

[Sandy]

Crazy,

First of all your post was very difficult to read. School is fundamental...Second, right again, your uncle should have been around so that may be he could have been convicted along with these two idiots and may be he would have received the death penalty and you would still have a place to visit and send cards to and talk to. I'm glad that your uncle was such a strong influence in your life, may be he should have insisted that you attend school more often in order to learn how to construct a proper paragraph.

[justin]

WELL I ONLY HAVE ONE THING TOO SAY 2 ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMENT ABOUT MY DAD THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TOO SAY OR THINK MY DAD WAS THE BEST DAD EVER AND NO ONE HAD RIGHT TO TAKE HIS LIVE AWAY THIS WAY BUT I NO HIS IN HEAVEN WITH GOD I HOPE THATS YOU GUYS RESPECT OR FEELING AND MAIN BECAUSE ME HAS HIS SON IT HURT ONLY GOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN CAR NO what really happend love you dad i miss you

[syscom3]

Justin, does it not bother you your dad was implicated in the shooting of another person?

[Kay]

Justin,

I am trying to keep in mind that you are a minor, that you have had some really bad influences in your life. I'm also trying to keep in mind that this was your dad and that you loved him in spite of himself. However, you dad did some really bad things! What concerns me the most though is that you can't acknowledge the things he did. There are no guaranties that your dad ended up in heaven or that he is sitting on the right side of God...although my faith wants me to believe that with his last breath that left in his body that he asked for forgiveness and that my God granted it. Your dad was implicated in taking the life of another young man…another kid probably right around your age. This person that died was someone’s son who never got to realize his dreams or fulfill his desires or to see his mom’s face one last time. This child died alone and scared and your dad had a lot to do with that. We all pay for the sins of our fathers. I hope you managed to learn a lesson here. The life style that you are living is going to get you know where and fast. Although from reading the post from Connie if this is your mother history is bound to repeat itself within your family over and over again.

[Shadow Park]

Gun contorl is not the soulution for this case, what is however is people control.
This guy was a gangster and he and his family are caught up in the life that is there choice. The only ones to feel sorry for are the innocent victims of this.
One possible solution all gangs and gang members should be subject to capital punishment as soon as they join a gang that is involved in any murders!
They want to be down for there crime see how down they are when they are looking at the needle!

[J]

I really hope that Justin follows or at least understands what Kay is trying to say. Kay you couldn’t have said it any better. I hope that your words of wisdom reach Justin and his family.

[syscom3]

I dont think god really cares about violent people saying they are sorry as they take their last breath.

Heaven is for good people. Murderers get to have a visit to see the devil.

[M]

R.I.P CUATE YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU.NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY,NO BODY KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPEND,THEY JUST COMMENT ON WHAT THEY READ ON THE ARTICLE,NEWS,ECT.TO SANDY IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE AND IF YOU COULD READ IT SAYS VELASCO WAS NEVER CHARGE SO FOR YOU TO COMMENT TO GIVE THE DEATH PENALTY IS NONSENCE BUT WHAT EVER,THE TRUTH NO BODY KNOW.AND FOR KAY WHO ARE YOU TO SAY TO THIS BOY HIS DAD MAY NOT BE IN HEAVEN YOU GOT YOUR OWN BELIVES AND GOD FORGIVES EVERY BODY NO MATTER WHAT.HE IS A CHILD WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIS LIFE STYLE,JUSTIN I HOPE YOUR DAD MEMORIES WILL STAY WHIT YOU FOREVER AND KNOW MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY YOU KNOW WHO HE WAS AND KNOW BODY HERE KNOWS HIM BETTER THAN YOU.

[Kay]

M,

I didn't write that he was ever charged what I wrote was that he was implicated. These two words are vastly different. I also did not say that he wasn't with God I said that with is last breath if he asked for forgiveness that my faith compeles me to believe that he was forgiven and that in my faith God forgave him and he is in heaven. You yourself write that no matter what happened which leads me to the conclusion that this person was far from being a good upstanding contributing memeber of society. He made choices that his son will pay for in the years to come. His son will make choices based on his father's life style. What worried me about "JR's" post wasn't that he said how much he loved his dad (so so speak) but that he couldn't even acknowledge what his dad had done. What he wrote about were excuses for the two guys charged and convicted of murder. His post indicated empathy for two people who took the life of another...there wasn't even a token of empathy for the victim. That's what worried me the most about the post no empathy or sympathy just a defense of two who killed.