Albert Munoz, 45

Albert Munoz, 45, a Latino man, was shot in the chest, back and abdomen while waiting for his laundry at 832 W. Gardena Blvd. in South Los Angeles at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2. He was transported to Harbor-UCLA, where he died at 7:07 p.m. According to LAPD South Bureau Det. Roger Allen, Munoz was outside waiting for his clothes to finish the spin cycle when assailants in a dark car drove past and shot him. Anyone with information is asked to call Dets. Allen or Charles Hicks at (213) 485-4341.

Comments

[Facts]

No offense to Mr. Munoz here, but the article fails to mention that both he and his companion, also shot in the drive, were both members of a street gang called Gardena 13. The only person to go to the hospital to check on my MrMunoz was another gang member, who ID' him by his tats. They were prob shot by their own gang.

[Concerned]

To Facts: How dare you assume anything. This man was doing his laundry. The only thing wrong was he probably stepped outside which put him in harms way. It doesn't matter if he was or wasn't in a gang. He was a human being with family that didn't deserve to be shot. My condolences to the family.

[James]

I'm sorry, Concerned, but to most of the city (and the world) it does matter whether or not the deceased man was a gang member. As to whether or not he deserved to be shot, I guess it depends on how he conducted his life. If he was a 45-year-old gang member, then I imagine he had intimidated, assaulted, injured, and maybe even killed other people in his life. Nevertheless, I offer my condolences to his family as well for the loss of their loved one.

[ruben]

Facts:

My father was a member of a street gang (25yrs ago) but he turned his life around, returned to school got his masters, became a drug counselor, and helped other gang members get out of gangs so there not robbing and killing fools like you. So what I'm trying to say if your in a gang now or in the past NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE.

[unico]

it sometimes feels like there is cops on here commenting...some people have a lil more info than others. anyhow. being in a gang follows you no matter what. some of my cousins who lived in the valley had to move to kansas city to escape thier gang ties. when one of them came back he ran into some old "buddies" at the store. he hung with them for a bit then walked to his car. while walkin he was hit up by some other gang members that remembered him. it had been more than 10 years and they still knew who he was. they would have shot him there but there was a lot of people in the parkin lot. my cousin left back to KC and hasnt really been back to visit. i see him more in MX than in the US. the point of this is that even tho you turn your life around and try to do right, people from your past do remember you. if they got it in for you then thats that. sad but it happens, may this individual rest in paradise. he was still a human regardless of his past.

[Contender]

This guy went by the moniker of "Indio" He was from Gardena 13. A decades old latino gang in the Harbor Gateway with numerous enemies in the South Bay/Harbor Area, Compton, and South Los Angeles. My step-dad is from Gardena 13 and around his age. I have since moved away and on with my life but despite his past, no one deserves to die. May his soul rest in peace.

[James]

It's ironic that you would use the phrase "fools like you" to describe someone with whom you disagree. After all, you're the one who wrote "there not robbing" instead of "they're not robbing" and "your" instead of "you're." Anyway, gangs never issue apologies when one of their members kills an innocent bystander, and they terrorize everyone in their vicinity, so whether they deserve to die or not, I for one shed no tears for the death of any gang member. The fact that your father turned his life around is admirable, but it does nothing for the people he harmed while he was living the "vida loca."

[ruben]

James

I'm sorry I thought this was a blog and not an english class so you must forgive me for my grammer, you obviously have way too much time on your hands. Anyways my whole point in the comment, since you obviously missed it, was that no one should just rush to judgement on anyone especially on someone who was murdered. The entry CLEARLY states he was just doing laundry NOT gang banging not killing or terrorizing anyone just doing laundry. So what are you saying that if you did some things in the past you deserve to be MURDERED for it later? I know you have some skeletons in your closet and god forbid if your name appears on here im not going to sit here and say, "oh well I'm sure he did some bad things in the past".

I'm SURE this man was no angel and neither was my dad, nor you or your FATHER, but they DO NOT deserve to be murdered. I mean C'mon it was 6:30pm on a tuesday and this guy was just doing laundry, why must you find a way to blame the victim, are you trying to make yourself feel better when you sleep at night?

And you said the comment, " I for one shed no tears for the death of any gang member" what if your son, nephew, cousin, daughter, or friend ever reveal to you, that they are or were in the past, (10 yrs ago) a gang member, are you going to dis-own them and not cry at there funeral, and say comments like your saying about this guy. What I'm saying is that WE you and I DO NOT know this guys story or his past or exactly what happened, so we can't judge him.

My condolences to his family and friends.

[Disappointed :(]

Very disappointed to read James comments! The blog is to learn and comment towards the victims of crime. Unfortunately their are countless individuals that enjoy judging other's based on current or past life styles. Who are we to jude (gangbangers or not) the human race? Mr. Ruben was giving his fathers example of how an individual which lived the VIDA LOCA can change from a bad boy image to a good one. THANK YOU RUBEN!!! We should show some sort of respect for those who show us that anyone can change to a postive role model regardless of your past. Unfortunately we all judge the human race based on their appearance, but in this case...life style. Mr. Munoz and all of the victims on the homicide site (again gangster or not) did not deserve to have their gift of life taken away as they all did.

My deepest condolence to all of the families who's had a loved one taken away!!!

BTW - James...since you checked on Ruben's grammar...can you spell check mine? Thanks :)

[unico]

we got a grammar queen in here!!! james you have to understand that "fool" is a word often used by urban males. your not really a fool, unless you think you are... i use it all the time with friends : "this fool" "na, fool" "for reals fool?" its kinda like "dick" or "dude" or "nigga" just words used to refer to others. but i thik his point was one about redemption and how no one deserves to be killed. thats a very optimistic outlook. one that i like, but the reality is that fools die all the time and gang life is hard to escape unless you move far far away. another friend has a brother that cant even water his lawn. he has many visible tatoos proclaiming his past gang nature and he is often hit up. he's been gone and out of the "vida loca" for years but those marks on him still get him noticed. so whether you are recognized by face or by features its tough tryin to turn your life around after a gang. for those tryin...keep it up. i simpathize, but aint nobody force you to do somehting you didnt want. you just gotta reap what you sow now. good luck in life men.

[James]

I appreciate the comments that Ruben, "Disappointed," and "Unico" have made in response to my earlier posts, and you all made good points. I realize this isn't an English class, and I'll stop correcting your grammar if you stop calling others "fools" (I know how kids use it, but regardless, it just doesn't sound right). In any case, when you use proper grammar it makes your argument more credible. Of course, I'm biased; I'm an English teacher. Perhaps that's why I feel as strongly as I do about gangsters.

I'm an L.A. native who taught elementary school in a poverty-stricken neighborhood just south of Downtown L.A. for six years, and for the last four years, I have taught English at a large high school just west of the 110 Freeway in the Rampart/Pico-Union district. Altogether, I have ten years' experience teaching in gang-infested neighborhoods. Last year, one of my juniors (not a gangster, but his brother was a tagger) was shot in the neck, and now he's a paraplegic with a trachea tube. I found another student going into convulsions on the floor of a stairwell after some gangsters beat him up (this student was a gang member, though). Just two days ago, one of my students (not a gang member at all) told me a gangster socked him in the face -- on campus -- because, according to him, they "were trying to jack my phone." I could go on and on with stories I've heard of gangsters who harass my male students on their way home from school. I'm not exaggerating here; these gang members dramatically affect the lives of my students in ways they have come to take for granted.

I'm actually a very liberal, progressive person, and I believe in "live and let live," but I draw a firm line when it comes to violent and thuggish behavior. Too many innocent non-gang-affiliated black and Latino kids are targets of gang members, and it's the innocent kids I care about. Gangsters have made their choice and I hope their deaths send a message to 12-year-olds who are considering getting jumped into a life of misery.

As for ex-gangsters, maybe they ought to have some sort of witness-protection system so they can be relocated to a part of the country where they are safe. If they have truly left the life behind, then they shouldn't stay in the same neighborhood where they might be "OG's" or "veteranos" to some -- and targets to others.

[Arnett]

I grew up in South LA during thew 70's & 80's and I read this blog monthly. Its a SAD state of affairs when ANYONE is killed regardless of reasons. For people who have been or are involved in the gang lifestyle, I feel for their loved ones who they leave behind. The Mothers and Grandmothers who have prayed and shed numerous tears for their sons and daughter for not. The children that some of the "homies" leave behind and the effects it has on their lives. NO ONE should be murdered! Not homies washing clothes on a Tuesday, nor an innocent person walking past him on that same Tuesday. A point was made also in this blog, how many times do gang members apologize for THEIR actions when someone is killed as a result of their actions? Do they donate money? Do they send money to the victims? Do they turn in the suspects? Pain and suffering go both ways, remember that!

[me]

James just mind your business becuase God forbid no one in your family ever becomes part of that life style dude Its what happens whenyou grow up with out a strong man in the family now is that there fault.also I need this corrections on this lil note can you please take care of that becuase you obviosly have alot of time. Thank you :) You have a great day Big guy

[Doc]

There's a book, read by many that says: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. To all my self-righteous brothers; may you not have your 'cap peeled' while retrieving your stones.
peace

[maria]

I would just like to say James that I agree with you. I myself personally belive that all gang members should be sent off to Iraq . If they don't care for thier own lives or of the innocent who often times end up being the ones who get killed. Let them fight this war, they seem to value their life little as it is.

I am tired of people distorting the english language myself. If gives good latinos a stereotype.

My sister was good friends with a standout athlete who had no gangster ties who lived in Santa Monica and one day in February of last year was gunned down because he was wearing his high school baseball uniform.

If only this man who killed him could possibly known the degree of pain his mom is in. She told my mom her life is over , she only sees a dark tunnel with no light in sight. Her only refuge is attending sunday mass. Eddie was such a wonderfull person that the governor of california helped pay his funeral since their children and Eddie attended the same church. He had a funeral fit for a king , even the mayor of Ssnta Monica attended. He was a good kid and this "fool" as they like to call each other should have first known about him a lttle before he decided to shoot a child on his way home from baseball practice.

Of course no one deserves to die, but he was a gangster. You reap what you sow. I feel sorry for his family because now they have to deal with the pain.

[Ariana]

Me,

Using the "growing up without a strong male figure" excuse is just that, an excuse. Life is what you make of it. I was raised by a single mother who worked long hours to make ends meet and a father that showed up from time to time when he was drunk. I will never allow that misfortune to dictate my fate. One can choose to blame every shortcoming in their life on other people or outside factors, but ultimately your life is what you make of it. I chose not to become a statistic by doing well in school and going to college. Nobody handed that to me, I've made a conscious decision and worked hard for it. It would have been a lot easier to say "woe is me, I have no strong male role model in my life let me just make dumb decisions and blame someone else for it."

[unico]

thank you for your dedication to our impressionable young minds james. i know very many teachers that have taught in lennox and athens and HP, all of them face the same struggles as you do. its really tough and these lil pee wees really need to join boxing and sports and music and art, instead of gangs but unfortunately sometimes the only outlet for them is going to be hanging on the block. the reality is that extra curricular activities are not as abundant in urban areas of LA as they are in the "nicer" parts of town. this is one of the problems. so many others... but i think you and everyone else genuinely dedicated to life sustaining outlests for youth are part of the solution. most people just criticize, and talk mess about the hood and its inhabitants, but leaving a (positive) footprint for others to follow is the ture mark of greatness. keep it up and teach your kids respect, especially for life.

[ruben]

Maria

Remember this guy was a FORMER gang member and POSSIBLY not even active I DONT KNOW and YOU dont know and james DONT KNOW, but what im saying is that no one should be MURDERED for being in a gang 10 or 20 years ago....how about if we dig into this guy Eddie's past and we find out he made some mistakes as a kid or hung around gang members and acted a "fool", how would you feel if i said "good rittens for that punk Eddie".....Doesnt feel good does it ? What im saying is that this guy was not commiting crimes or breaking into your house he was doing LAUNDRY.

James

I respect your comment a little more and I unlike you have PERSONALLY been a victim of violence from gangs and have friends who have been victims of gangmembers but I'm not going to sit here and say "THEY SHOULD ALL BE BRUTALLY MURDERED", that makes you just as bad and ignorant as them.

[Concerned]

Ruben:

Thank you for so eloquently saying what many are feeling. No one deserves to be shot.

James:

While its commendable that you are trying to make a difference by your actions, your mind is in a very dark place. Maybe its time you transferred or took a vacation.

[James]

Dear Concerned -- Please do yourself a favor and reread the comments I've made in this post before you cast aspersions and insinuate that I'm a burned-out teacher "in a dark place" who needs a vacation. I never said that gangsters, or anyone else, deserved to be shot; my exact quote reads as follows: "... whether they deserve to die or not, I for one shed no tears for the death of any gang member." I stand by that statement, but it's not the same as saying that a gang member deserves to get shot.

I'm glad there are so many pacifists on this forum who believe that nobody deserves to die, no matter what crimes they have committed. Why didn't I hear your voices after September 11th when a deafening war cry rose up across this nation, and people lusted for revenge on Osama Bin Laden? Why didn't I hear your voices in late 2002 when we were preparing to depose, then assassinate Saddam Hussein? While we're on the topoic, perhaps you were too busy watching the O.J. Simpson trial in 1994 to notice the 800,000 civilians who perished in Rwanda that same year. Let's be honest, Mr. or Ms. Concerned, your concern likely doesn't extend to these folks, so get off your high horse and admit that there are people in the world for whom you shed no tears either. As the great guitarist Eric Clapton sang, "Before you accuse me ..." You know the rest.

[Peanut]

Albert AKA Indio was my mother’s boyfriend. On the day that Albert was shot, my mother, for the time in their entire relationship was away visiting my grandmother. Otherwise I can't help but to think she would have been a victim also. Although I mourn Albert I thank god for saving my mother. Unlike most of those who have commented I knew him personally, what he did in his past is between him and god. The Indio I knew tried to educate the youngsters on respect and tried to convince them not to settle differences with weapons to either talk it out or take it out side no weapons and a hand shake when it was over. Don't get me wrong he was no saint but I know he did not deserve to die that way. He is with God now and although I don't expect any educated person to shed tears for a total stranger, I do expect them to show respect for the death of MAN. I have one question what is up with all these drive-by-shootings?

[Anniversary]

As the 2nd year anniversary approaches of my friend's murder, I decided to check out this article one more time. It is a shame on how this intelligent, funny, caring, articulate,and loving man's life was ended. I knew him personally for many years. He was one of my dearest friends who drifted deeper into a lifestyle of drugs, drinking, & women. He gave up on life and was miserable without his children & his wife. He was deserted by his family because of this lifestyle he chose. I cared for him deeply, but we drifted apart because he and I chose different paths. We would visit occasionally about twice a year, where he would reminisce about his children,share their photos and stories about the wife he missed. All I could do is listen and advise him on the direction his life was taking him. He agreed but found it to painful to be alone. Regardless, I miss my friend...our last visit was on a beautiful sunny day in San Pedro at Palms. He and I and of course my kids who adored him had a great afternoon. We convinced him to wet his feet...lol. Then we snacked on donuts in Gardena & we parted ways, not knowing it was our last visit. He did not deserve this. Yes he was doing his laundry, but recklessness made him a target for this killing. Miss you Al....Love you forever...