Newton homicide: High stakes, low publicity

Walter Hernandez, 23, a Latino man, was shot and killed at 1540 E. 42nd Street in LAPD's Newton Division just south of downtown L.A. on Monday, Sept. 10, at 5:20 p.m.

It was broad daylight, in a crowded neighborhood. The suspects drove up, and one got out and chased Hernandez down. He was taken to County-USC hospital, where he died.

Hernandez was a gang member--in trouble with the police, but well-liked and well-respected within a large and active Newton gang, according to Newton Det. Dennis Fanning.

Why does this matter? Because it makes it more likely that Hernandez's friends will seek revenge. One death like this can swiftly become many. "Someone needs to find a way to stop it before another person gets killed, and then there is retaliation for that killing, and more and more and more," Fanning said.

Once such a cycle of street justice gets rolling, "The bullets have no eyes," he added. Non-combatants are often killed. Newton has already seen it's share of such shootings this year. (See: Laura Sanchez, Nelli Rodriguez, Emelio Perez).

Hernandez's death offers little in the way of a heart-tugging narrative or a novelty hook, and has garnered little publicity. Yet the stakes are high, measured in potential lives lost and public costs.

And down in Newton precinct, where a scant crew of eight detectives are grappling with 39 other killings so far this year, they are bracing for the fallout. Police are trying to get the word out that tips in this case--even anonymous ones--could help avert a bloody cycle.

Fanning and his partner, Spanish-speaking Det. Miguel Terrazas, are at (323) 846-6556.

(Right, Coronas, rosaries and the Madonna at Hernandez's street shrine.)

Comments

[Contender]

Was this guy from SS 38st? They are a handful in the "shootin newton" division.

[buz algood]

Why not post my comment. The truth is ugly, accept it.

[Linda]

I find it so sad with all the killings,What ever happened to a arguement and then just walk away...Now its knives,Guns and children that are losing there lives to this. We as adults need to rule are children not let them rule us,We need to take control...Because at this time we are losing this battle and losing are children. Gangs are no good nothing ever good comes out of them.

[tiffany]

He was a very sweet person none the lees and his gang affliation had npthing to do with him being murdered in cold blood. He was not arguing as the article stated he was chased down and never saw it coming but peopl in the neighborhood did and said nothing and still won't. Once again me condolences to the family.

[Walt]

"He was a very sweet person none the lees and his gang affliation had npthing to do with him being murdered in cold blood."

Earth to Tiffany: his gang affiliation had everything to do with his murder. He who lives by the sword dies by it.

[T Jay]

Karma, Karma, Karma.... It seems like that's the magical WORD. How many innocent people have this guy terrorized, robbed or killed? I tend to NOT feel sorry for evil people like this. Yes, he was sweet, but to WHO? only to His close friends, His Homeys, but what about the community. How many times can you say He talked to little kids, to not join a gang? How many times can you say He got on his knees and asked God forgiveness? How many times can you say He grabbed a kid girl or boy and preached RESPECT? Not to the gangs, but to others? It would be surprising to me if he did these things. My only sorrow is for the INNOCENT little kids, Mothers, Fathers and Grandmothers who work and slave so hard to put food on the table to loose their kids or family members to these evil people. Have lost a INNOCENT love one, to murder? who you had so much ahead of them, and worked so hard to resist gangs, and and actually bring gang members to church to show them a purpose in life than gang life, to be robbed of that life, because of these EVIL gang members, who don't believe that eveyone is not from a gang, and just because you say your not from a gang is it true

[T Jay]

Karma, Karma, Karma.... It seems like that's the magical WORD. How many innocent people have this guy terrorized, robbed or killed? I tend to NOT feel sorry for evil people like this. Yes, he was sweet, but to WHO? only to His close friends, His Homeys, but what about the community. How many times can you say He talked to little kids, to not join a gang? How many times can you say He got on his knees and asked God forgiveness? How many times can you say He grabbed a kid girl or boy and preached RESPECT? Not to the gangs, but to others? It would be surprising to me if he did these things. My only sorrow is for the INNOCENT little kids, Mothers, Fathers and Grandmothers who work and slave so hard to put food on the table to loose their kids or family members to these evil people. Have you lost a INNOCENT love one, to murder? who had so much ahead of them, and worked so hard to resist gangs, and actually bring gang members to church to show them a purpose in life than gang life, to be robbed of their life, because of these EVIL gang members, who believe that eveyone is from a gang, and just because you say your not from a gang, Why do they not think is't true. We need to start from our young to show them a purpose for life, and that not terrorizing others. LOVE,RESPECT and a sense of VALUES start at HOME, not on the streets. Maybe some how, some way once we could put more people like this away or forgive me GOD, but in the ground, it seems like thats when we'll have more peace. 'Each One, Teach One', Love and Respect for your neighbor, and community.

[T Jay]

Just looking in this guys eyes on this website gives me the creeps

[tiffany]

I agree when you live by the sword you die by the sword. I did not uphold his lifestyle at all but murder is murder and no matter who does it it is still wrong. My only point is somewhere the cycle has to stop. The same kids whome he preached not be llike him and he brought ice cream for when the parents were no where to be found saw his body lying in the street so he sent a message to them in life and in death. We have no right to judge and I do not want to get into a debate about someone who was snuck up on and killed motes with a gun on a busy sreet during rush hour on the same street he lived where families were coming in from work and kids were going outside to play. Since then more shootings have occured with different victims within a two mile radius and who knows who were the intended targets or who were not. If no one comes foward they will continue to kill and what if they head to your area or mine where there is a gangbanger or a family member of a gang member, a person we know or do not know about seeking retaliation and bullets have no eyes. Who then dies by the sword. Just a image for you one bullet sruck him in the head brains exposed and he did not die on the scene nor was that the only bullet.The whole block arrived before paramedics could and newton division is less then a mile away (walking distance) and I'm sure the killer knew this.We won't know. AlI ask is someone to come foward, no one deserves to die that way gangbanging is not the smartest nor courages thing to do but neither is uplifting or witholding a killer.

[b real]

THIS GUY WAS UP TO NO GOOD, HE WAS BOUND TO GET DEALT WITH. HE SHOULD OF STAYED IN ELSALVADOR WHERE HE WOULD OF LIVED LONGER.

[KARI]

i realy want to know what does it matter if he was from SS 38 ST OR NOT THE THING IS THEY NEED TO STOP ALL THE SHOOTINGS IN THE CITY OF ANGELES!

[Mark]

Kari, just what do you propose to do to stop the mayhem?

[LITTLE SUSPECT]

REST IN PEACE BIG HOMIE SUSPECT!!!!!DIZ BE LITTLE SUSPECT U KNOW IMA PUT IT DOWN CUZ I REMEBER WEN U SAID A DOWN FOE GOTS 2 BE LITTLE SUSPECT AND U SAID IM LITTLE SUSPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUT IT TURNED OUT BEING WAT NONE OF DA HOMIES WANTED!!!!!!!CUZ 38STREET STAY MAKING ENEMIGAS(ENEMIES) DIE IN SUPER HARMFUL WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pancho]

i went to jefferson high school and remember how ss38st used to terrorize the campus even the teacher and administration feared them....... i am in to way justifying this senseless act of violence because an eye for an eye solves nothing. just saying he might had coming what happened to him but next time another gangster is targeted an innocent bystander might end up dead (which more often seems to be the case).

[Annonymous]

I don't know this guy. His face looks familiar, but I don't know him. I do know that I am not gang affiliated and just the other day I was outside with my 1 year old child and two gentlemen from ss38st stopped on my street and began shooting. For what reason? No one outside was gang affiliated and the idiots who are live further down the street. All I could think of was what if my baby would have gotten struck by one of those bullets. It's really a horrible feeling when you are a parent and you cannot protect you children from things like this.

[Nando_Perez]

I Knew this Man personaly,he was killed in his neighnorhood in broad daylight.I know his Family and know how much pain they had to endure.His Mother who I Loved dearly past away two months later.The most tragic events I have gone through so far in my life.I wish we could of had more good times together,but I'll always have both of you in my heart and remember the good times we shared together.I love you and Please Look after Kari.

[syscom3]

Nando_Perez, the deceased was a gangster. That means he did evil things upon other people.

Shouldnt you show some sympathy towards them and not this sociopath?