Diana Tomas, 14

Diana Tomas, 14, a Latina girl, was shot in the head and left lying on a pathway next to a sound wall blocking the 101 Freeway in LAPD's Rampart Division at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. She was taken from 417 N. Lafayette Park Place near Benton Way to County-USC Medical Center, where she survived for four more days.

Diana's death on Thursday, Dec. 6, is just now being reported on the Homicide Report because she did not die immediately, and because investigators did not know who she was. Thinking she was about 20 years old, Diana was listed as "Jane Doe" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the same afternoon Diana was shot, her mother had gone to the Rampart station to report her missing. Diana was a Virgil Middle School student who sometimes ran away from home. Officers took the report, not realizing she was the same person then lingering on a respirator at County-USC. Diana had never been arrested, so when she was fingerprinted at the hospital, police could find no match and were unable to identify her.

It took a few more days to put it together. Diana's mother heard a rumor that a young woman had been shot and returned to the station to ask if this might be her daughter. Det. J. Kessner of Rampart drove the mother to the hospital, where she saw her daughter, still alive on life support. Diana's head was so swollen from the gunshot wound that her mother had to walk around both sides of the bed to identify her in what Kessner described as a painful scene. "It was shocking to us when we found out she was 14," said Det. Fred Faustino, Rampart homicide supervisor. Diana died at 9:18 a.m. Dec. 6.

There was new tagging on the sound wall near where she fell. She may have been walking by and been caught in crossfire, Faustino said. Detectives are seeking information on the case. They are at (213) 207-2060.

Comments

[frank]

Only in Los Angeles would the news of the murder of a 14 year old girl be relegated to rarely read and seen Homicide Report. In most cities across America this would make Head-Line news, but in the gang capital, bearly a whisper is heard. How has this type of situation come to exist, where a young girls life has no value in the eyes of her fellow human beings.

[Preston]

It is a shame that this did not even get a mention on the news...its was about the weather...the snow and how the Patriots are undefeated. It a shame that the only mention is on the HOMICIDE REPORT. Someone killed an child..that person is still out on the streets free to kill your Mom, sister or auntie!

[mark]

Frank, just keep reading this blog for a few weeks.

Soon nothing will shock you you will become accustomed to these street terror incidents.

[AB]

Totally feel Frank's comments, it's very sad.

But I think we should ask that question to our news outlets. The the L.A. Times report it on its main webpage?, it's newspaper?

Regardless, did you hear Michael Vick got 23 months?, and fyi a water main broke and dumped water on Van Halen's pool.

[Richard]

In todays society when a lil girl can get killed and it doesn't make the headlines is a shame. We as a country is helping build another a thousand miles away, but yet ours is going to crap, and no one is doing anything about it. Much respect to her family. She's in a better place...

[Tippy]

I hate to make an obvious point, but if it were a 14-year old white girl killed in Beverly Hills, it sure would've made the front page! It's about race and class.
My deepest condolences to Diana's family and friends. Rest in peace, Diana. I hope they catch whoever did this.

[Lawrence]

Before pointing fingers and pulling the race card, ask yourself if any of the Latino newspapers put this on their front page. It's not always a racial thing.

[sarah]

it's sad, of course, but it sounds like they didn't report it because she was an unidentified female, of indeterminable age, on life-support- not much of a story. by the time they identified her, found out her age, and she died, it was old news.

and regardless of race, when crimes happen in places where crime rarely happens, it's more of a story than when it happens somewhere with a high crime rate.

[CarsonLifer]

Where do I start? For some you are worried that this did not get headline news. Should we not be worried as to why she was running away from home, why she would decide to live a life on the streets. Expose herself to the dangers that she knows was out there. It is truly sad that she had to die at so young an age. It hurts me so much. Something was wrong her life and we should find out? Why should we find out, so that this tragedy does not repeat itself! Sad to say, we all know it will, many more times and more likely in your hood. Is that a racial thing, no it is reality. You should voice your anger at those who shot this young girl, voice your anger at those in your hood who are willing to shoot someone for a stupid question...where you from? Or for killing someone who step on your squeaky clean white sneakers. You are proud to claim GANG CAPITOL, you expect a shooting everyday, you expect someone to die everyday, someone to get rob, carjacked, beat up, you expect it. Yeah, do you really want the reporters to show how everyday so many criminal activities are occuring in your hood. And if they do , then you start asking, why they keying on our hood, why they being racist for only writing about who died, who got shot. I bet one thing that all reporters, officers, citizens of your hood, the kids would be proud to see, is all of you in your hood standing up to the gangs, the criminals, making it safe for the kids to walk to school, play out front, go to the corner grocery store. Everyone would like to hear that damn they really turning things around, they really fighting for something positive, grades are improving, living in this hood is better then ever. Do something positive for you hood, people will stay, business will come, money will be spent in your own hood. It make take years, decades, but it has to start somewhere. I live in the hood, it was going the wrong way, I was part of that criminal activity, but you know what the neighbors spoke up, came to our faces and lets us know they would not tolerate it. When kids tried to tag, the residence came running at us with bats. We tried to thump our chest but eventually we realized that this was our hood, why screw it up! yeah we still have the bad elements but the residence just will not let it get out of hand. Residence work with the sheriffs, started community watch, and now the businesses are coming. It can be done and needs someone to jumpstart it and commit to it for life. Good Luck

[Proud Mother of 4 (PEACE and LOVE)]

I am tearing up just reading this story....I pray that god gives her family the strength to get through this terrible situation. To look for you daughter and not be able to find her is one story but to find out the jane doe at the nearest hospital is you daughter....theres no words that can define that nightmare.
I can't believe this happened right near my job. She went to school across the street from the dealership that I work at. These kids are so innocent!
I am so saddened by all of the madness...STOP THE KILLING!

[di]

how terrible for the mother to find out this way and to see her daughter for the last time in a hospital room on life support. To add insult to injury the fact that this wasn't reported any where. Not the death part but not even the crime part. Before she died she was the victim of a crime a serious crime and not one word any where. If it was not for this blog we would never know.

[Mark]

Tippy, this girls death is just one among many that happen in Los Angeles. its commonplace, sad to say. It has nothing to do with race and class.

Its like the news media has "homicide fatigue". Same murders being commited in the same area's, day after day after day.

Its not newsworthy because its commonplace!

[patty]

It is a shame the victim is only 14, and her killer will never likely be caught. But the bigger shame is this area, in Rampart division is a nightmare and totally ignored by the rest of LA. It's getting scarier to live there, and that's why I left. The gunshots are a normal occurrence, the taggings are freshened up each night, there are no patrols in the area even though the station is right there. It is sad.

[Cool Rails]

I think these comments are missing an inherent point with News Organizations here. News shows, sites, and programs all get ratings/readers/viewers by reporting on news that does not happen everyday. You're damn right it's about race. A Black or Latino male or female of any age killed in a Black or Latino neighborhood in L.A. is an everyday occurrence. Like it or not.

A white person being killed (especially in a white neighborhood) is not an everday occurrence and thus is newsworthy. It's a simple fact of what to report in the news.

What HR brings to our attention is the fact that it is utterly ridiculous that we live in a world where these types of murders are an everday occurrence. It is utterly ridiculous that the murder of a white person gets front page headlines, while the murder of a minority gets a footnote on page 16. If those types of murders stop, then once they happen they will again be front page news: because they are not happening at the rate of 2 per day.

Keep up the good work Jill.

[Browne]

I think this is an example of racism. The only people in LA who matter are white people, because if a black girl from Baldwin Hills died or a Latina from South Hills in the SGV, which are both upper middle class neighborhoods it wouldn't make front page news either.

Race is still a very big deal in LA, which is why a neighborhood will continue to be deadly until white people move in and then all of a sudden the police figure out how to stop people from getting shot. It's amazing what the cops have done to the arts district (warehouse district,) which is right outside skidrow. Just utterly fascinating.

Browne

[Dan Landis]

What a tragedy? True, I teach at an urban middle school in San Francisco. Gang activity is an every day occurence. I see all too many 7th and 8th graders not in school and on the streets. Where are the parents? What can we do to stop it.

True, when a white girl disappears/and or gets killed - the whole world notices. Witness Natalie Hollaway. But a Latina, or African American - little is said outside of the community.

We at the forefront of the children try our damnest to help - but how much can we do to stop this sort of stuff!

[Bob]

This is pathetic. Because she was an unidentified victim and was still alive at the time in a hospital this should have been front page news. Unfortunately, I agree with the other posts that claim this is racism. If this was a white girl, as in the case of the college student in Aruba, then this would have been front page news and talk shows would have had the families on discussing this for the next two years. And for the record, I am white and I find this absolutely appalling in the 21st century that the news media is still so jaded that the deaths of minorities are not considered equal to the deaths of whites. The news media can deny this all they want but they can just look at their own front page articles and let the truth speak for itself.

Maybe if these deaths were constantly reported on the front page then people would start demanding that someone do something about it. Others might claim that people would just start to become insensitive to this if it was constantly thrown in their face. That doesn't seem to be the case with Iraq. The people of the US, of both political parties, have become disgusted with the war due to the constant coverage of the death of our troops. If the media spent as much time on the senseless slaughter of people in Los Angeles then people would demand more of the government to do something about it.

[K.Winn]

I agree with the other posters. This has more to do with race than anything else. For example..their were 2 young women missing at the same time..one was Black and was a college student in Florida; the other was White and was living a double life as a student/stripper. Both women were found dead on the same day..guess which one made the front page news..the White women's did with the media highlighting her double life, etc. There's no denying that racism plays a huge part in how they report the news..no doubt in my mind!!

[K.Winn]

To those that are excusing the lack of coverage because it doesn't happen to White people like it does to minorites are obviously living on another planet. Every week there's a report of a White woman or man missing..Nancy Grace wouldn't have a show if there wasn't a White woman missing so please..stop the excuses!!!

[Bill]

The Times and other newspapers and all the other news media like to think they are the crusading journalist heroes that will save the world. Just like in the movies, they all want to be the next Woodward and Bernstein. OK, here's a way to do it: How about running an article on every murder in LA county on the front page?

Every day, The Times runs Column One on the front page. Every day that column has every piece of garbage reporting they can scrape into it, and it runs in the most prominent place possible, no matter how silly or quirky the subject. So how about running an article on every murder in LA county on the front page? Do it every time, do it on the front page, do it above the fold. Even if it is just 4 inches with no details, run it. Even if the victim is a no-name gang banger in East LA, run it. After a month, people will start to see how OFTEN they are reading about an LA murder. When a day goes by without one, they will wonder why. Eventually, it might get through their heads what in hell is going on outside their doors.

And the reporters and editors that do it will be heroes, just like in the movies.

[hb]

Re: the Nancy Grace type media coverage: the victim must be very pretty and wholesome looking, extra points for a wealthy background, double points for pregnancy and quadruple points for being the victim of a sex crime. The family needs to have lots and lots of high-quality photographs and preferably video of her, ready to hand to the producers, so the story can be recited by the host while the photo/video collage of the victim is shown on the screen. There needs to be footage of the family pleading for the victims safe return and a large group of volunteers walking through rural fields. It's all about what footage is available to show on screen and how good it looks.

That is how TV works, folks.

These stories are formula, and this poor child did not fit the formula. God bless her soul and God comfort her family.

[ed]

The reason this stuff rarely happens in the 'burbs is that neighbors report any misbehavior. It is called not letting your kids run wild, get gang tatoos and testify against any criminals.

[RichieC]

I would consider this more along the lines of police negligence over racism. We are talking the Rampart Division and I used to live in the neighborhood. MS13 tags all over, gang shootings often, police presence in that area is near imaginary. I do think they are stepping up areas of downtown more because of the wealthier influence in those areas.

The cops in this town still have a lot of work in the poorer areas but look at the homicide decrease in black, poor, Compton. All because they stepped up patrol. This is what needs to be done in that specific area as well.

But on the subject of racism I hardly see any of your arguments. This story was just broken here yesterday so I think we will see an article in the paper soon. If you are upset over what appears on the front page then you need to work on the priorities of your fellow man/woman because the papers/news channels only keep doing what gets them more ratings and more money. Life isn't fair, the fair is in August.

[James]

Browne -- The reason that police seem to find a way to reduce crime in areas where whites move in is that whites work with the police. They cooperate with investigations, communicate with them about community issues, and in so doing, keep pressure on them. This is a generalization, but I think it's fair to say that whites don't buy this ridiculous "no snitching" policy, and whites don't see the police as their enemy. I've read so many reports of murders where witnesses and bystanders evaporate into the night as soon as police arrive. Even when the police allow witnesses to call in with anonymous tips, too often, black and Latino communities stay silent. I'm sorry, but I don't think it's fair to blame this issue on whites.

I know that L.A. police have been heavy-handed and corrupt at times, and for that reason many African-Americans and Latinos don't like them. But as I tell my students (inner-city high school): Who would you rather have controlling the streets: The police, for whom there is accountability, or MS13 and 18th Street? We need a tough police force to deal with the urban terrorists -- but the police need us. They need our support. I'm not saying we need to kiss their asses or look the other way when they do something wrong, but we need to start reporting what we see, assisting them in their investigations, and treating them with a bit more humanity.

[frank]

I would like to make a suggestion to the people commenting here. I would like each of you to take a few minutes and send this story to, friends the local news media outlets and to the Mayor of Los Angeles. It will only take a few minutes of your time and if enough people do this maybe this young girl’s life will not be so quickly forgotten. I am sure many of us have kids around this age and would not want this to happen to our daughter.

[evelyn]

Hmmm...people need to stop crying racism and start looking at their own communities...we have a gang problem in our community but we are very proactive and we do confront them. I confronted 6 young men trying to dump something in an alley and again confronted a young teen tagging. I was very polite in both instances but made the point that the community belongs to all of us. With all of the neighbors working together, we have reduced the gang problem. We don't behave as if we are afraid and we confront those we feel we can, including the parents, and call the cops on the rest.
In addition, Latino parents must start promoting education over work and begin volunteering in the schools. Until they do this, the drop out rate will be over 50% in our communities.
Learning English would also help. In almost every case, students whose parents have learned English do better in school. It is easy to cry racism when you don't do your part. I can't count the number of times I have had indignent parents say through a translator,"You don't speak Spanish?" It takes all my self control to look at the parent who has been here 10 years and not ask why they have not learned one word of English.
I feel horrible for this young girl and do feel it is negligence on the part of the police. You should never assume someone's age. This definately should have been publicized and handled more ethically.

[SC]

Are people so much in denial that they truly believe JUSTICE IS COLOR BLIND in this country? See this article about a white teen who killed a brown teen, and she got off with probation and community service. Shame on you for being so callous or ignorant!

Teen killer gets probation
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press
12/08/2007
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendlyHOUSTON - A teenage girl who faced a murder charge after fatally stabbing a 15-year-old member of the notorious MS-13 gang during a brawl at a park pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser crime, avoiding prison time.Ashley Benton, 17, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. She was given five years deferred adjudication probation, meaning if she completes her sentence without problems, her conviction will be erased.

Prosecutors say Benton murdered Gabriel Granillo by plunging a double-bladed knife into his heart during a June 2006 fight. Kent Schaffer, Benton's attorney, portrayed her as a scared girl caught up in gang violence who stabbed Granillo while trying to protect herself after he swung a bat at her.

Benton would have faced up to life in prison if she had been convicted of murder at her January retrial. Her first trial earlier this year ended in a mistrial when a jury failed to reach a verdict in three days of deliberations.

Benton has said she wasn't a part of Crazy Crew, the gang that was battling MS-13 members that day, but was friends with several members.

"She did what she had to do on (that day) to live. She defended herself," Schaffer said. "We're happy we came up with a resolution we believe to be fair."

Benton was 16 when she stabbed Granillo but was certified to stand trial as an adult.

Prosecutors had contended Granillo was running away from the fight when he was stabbed by Benton.

In addition to probation, the plea agreement calls for Benton to pay Granillo's funeral expenses, perform 300 hours of community service, get a high school diploma or GED, and be subject to drug and alcohol testing.

Prosecutor Mia Magness said authorities felt the plea agreement was the best way to conclude the case.

"I don't think Gabriel Granillo's family will ever be satisfied with any outcome," she said. "This was the right resolution."

MS-13 also is known as La Mara Salvatrucha, a Salvadoran gang that started in Los Angeles. It is one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the country and its activities have also been spread to Central America by deported members.

The gang is particularly violent, known for beheading enemies and staging attacks with grenades and machetes.

[Antonio]

Someone asked if this was mentioned on any Spanish-Speaking outlets.

It actually was, Univision Channel 34 covered the story.

If people want to see tragedies like this on the mentioned on the news. Then you need to start making calls, sending e-mails to the producers of the news program that you watch.

I also with many comments if this little girl would have been shot in Beverly Hills, then it would be everywhere. But since she is Latina, it is no news, it is like they believe that it is expected. And they talk about Paris Hilton, Lohan and all of this other non-sense crap that many of us do not care about.

[Ghetto Mentality]

Whatever your position, your opinion or take on this tragedy. I am glad many of you felt compelled to air your thoughts and outrage. This unknown child has sparked a dialogue and I hope many of us play it forward by sharing her story and hard lesson with others. Let's give her justice and peace by keeping her story alive. Adelante!!!

[Sandy]

I don't get it...I'm 15 years old and I work on the school news paper and all the talk about this shooting and it not being reported in papers and TV and such what would the differance be? I mean if it was published on the day they found her or if it was published on the day she died or if it was published on the day her mother put things together what would the change be? Would her killer be in jail? Would she be alive? What would change if this was posted all over the place? Again I'm 15 have never left home and I would hope my mom wouldn't wait days to report it it I came up missing but, I don't understand what the change would be if it was reported as so many people want it to be I thought if we want things to change we should come up with solutions and crediable real changes. This story is not enough to keep our interest...there is no story as far as reporting it for days or for publishing more then one time and certainly not front page news no suspect, no real story. Oh I live in Boyle Heights and I go to well I won't write down which school I go to but, I guess I just don't see racisim here. I don't see the man out to keep me down.

[Anonymous]

Channel 9 very briefly touched on this story last night.

[East LA Resident]

To James the High Teacher who generalized the Snitchin Philosophy

When I see a murder or a robbery in East L.A. I dont follow the so called "no snitchin rule" I follow the " I want to live and make sure no one comes after me or my family" philosophy.

Its fear! Think about it. Rappers & hip hop may glorify it, but you never hear a old lady or a parent of three say " I aint no snitch" they think of the fatal ramifications of "snitchin".

James, you honestly think the no snitchin philosphy is whats holding communites and minoritesfrom progress.

People dont trust cops because of images of Rodney King...Rampart Divsion scandal (The department that has jurisdiction of this murder)

Latinos who fear speaking to the police in fear of deportation. The issue is complex. James I encourage you to look at all factors before comming to your conclusion.

[reposado]

Are people calling racism not reading this forum at all??

All this black-on-black or brown-on-brown crime and you people still find some way to blame white people?

Its not whitey killing your people. Its the lack of education, lack of good parenting, lack of the father staying around, lack of helping the police, and just the general lack of helping your own community and/or making yourself a useful member of society that is killing your people.

fyi im asian myself and from a bystander's point of view this finger pointing and all talk/no action from the black/brown communities is why these murders are sadly not going to end anytime soon.

[Lafayette]

She was not caught in crossfire, there was only one shot. She was shot point blank. I know because my uncle was the person who found her.
(By the way, this pathway may seem seedy but it isn't. It was once quite nice, until CalTrans built the ugly soundwall.)
This girl's life deserves more respect and recognition than what she has been given. The police automatically called her a "gangmember" without any proof or evidence, simply because she was Latina. I imagine it's this kind of thinking that makes it easier for the people of Los Angeles to continue living their lives in apathy and ignorance. This young girl, no matter how much trouble she might have been in or what childish mistakes she might have made, did not deserve to be murdered.

[Lafayette]

One more thing...
Despite repeated attempts to call 911 and the police station (less than 1 block away!!!) the ambulance and the police took 30 minutes to show up. I hope her mom knows someone stayed by Diana's side the whole time and talked to her while they waited for the ambulance to come.

[frank]

This story was now covered in the L.A. Times, ABC News, NBC News and Los Angeles blogs. Was it covered after people here expressed their outrage? Maybe Jill Leovy will tell us when the L.A. Times decided to run this story, on it's main section.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-diana12dec12,1,6341963.story
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5831848
http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=194379
http://blogging.la/archives/2007/12/14_year_old_girl_killed_ignore.phtml

[Tony]

I must agree with James, the "no snitching" rule is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. One can't blame the police, the media or white people for the problems in "the hood" if people who witness a crime choose not to help the police get drug dealers and gang bangers off the streets. The violence is like an untreated cancer.

[ononymous]

Don't we all see that rival gangs need to be put in a battle field, where they can fight and end their wars once and for all?

[ononymous]

We must anialate corruption inside prison walls, then we can talk about fixing the streets; prisons control the outside!!!

[Ghetto Mentality]

O.kay, it looks like everyone has said their peace and has moved on.
LAST ENTRY: REST IN PEACE LITTLE ANGEL. YOU HAVE RETURNED HOME TO YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MOTHER WILL ALWAYS SAY HER PRAYERS TO YOU. AMEN.

[daledo]

My prayers go out to Diana' family and friends. This young woman did not deserve what happened to her, and I hope somebody comes forward.

JAMES & TONY- I used to think like you do, and I understand where you are coming from. While I agree that the "No Snitching" policy is wrong, you have to understand what the situation is. Not YOUR situation, but THEIR situation on the streets where most of these crimes occur.

For those of you who live in low (or no) crime areas, it seems crazy to not work with the police. Why would you not want to get these people off the streets? On all the TV shows and movies, the cops provide protection for witnesses, place them in the witness protection program, etc,etc. It looks so simple. The bad guy goes down and we all live happily ever after. This is not reality.

The reality is that in most high-crime areas, the police can't/won't provide that kind of protection ($), and when they do, they cannot guard somebody for life. Witnesses are in a very tough situation. The system uses up the witnesses until their day in court (if they make it that long) and after that they are on their own. The streets have a long memory. Even if the guilty party goes to prison, then their homeboys get revenge. Even if they get revenge on a family memeber.

Of course, you want these people off the streets, but if you were a hard-working man with a wife and kids, would you put them at a VERY real risk in order to snitch/testify against somebody? And this person has 25/100 people who would get revenge for him so they can move up the ranks? And you see these people every time you drive around your neighborhood?

And you have very, very few options other than to keep living in the same area? Or if you move, you have to cease contact with all family members/friends in the area in the hope that this will keep you safe? Even moving probably will not help if they want you bad enough.

The people who do step forward are real heroes. I think it would be helpful if we put more emphasis on crediting these men and women who step forward in light of these circumstances. Maybe we can also start by trying to see these situations with a little more understanding.

In areas that are controlled by the cops, it is not as big a deal to come forward and be a witness. If I only see the bad guy once in court, then get to go about my life, yeah- it does seem like a no-brainer.

In other areas (look at the homicide blog map), it is a huge deal to step forward and literally risk everything you have in the hope that A) the system will do the right thing B) You will be protected. Would you be so quick to step forward if you knew the guys you were testifying against always had guns and they spend most of their time out in the street across from your house, or at the corner of your block, or how about at your gym or place of work? It’s not as simple as your comments suggest.

God bless all the heroes that do come forward with information-you will be rewarded.

[Shadow]

Diana was my best friend since we were 3 years old.Iwas surprised that she died.Iwas so devastated that she died.Ijust got through seeing her too.It was so ridiculus that it took 30mins for an ambulance to come.I mean,who would shoot a 14 year old.She didn't deserve it. R.I.P Diana my best friend since forever.They put the death of white girls on T.V,but not Latinas.Nothing but racism.

[AB]

In response to East L.A. Resident.

Scarred of the police? You can report stuff anonymously, why don't you?

I'm latino, and live in Paramount. James' argument is kind of true. Why would you not report a crime? 911 calls aren't traced by criminals, and the police don't say, "you're under arrest, oh and by the way, the people who reported you live over there." It's like people that' don't vote, but then complain about politicians and such. And I'm guilty of it too probably, but lations don't complain. It goes even to petty things, like customer service at the local Huntington Park Home Depot, IT SUCKS. Customer Service in Marina Del Rey, and Downey is great though. Why?, cause Latinos don't complain about it. This is just a petty complaint, when put against homicide, but its true all around.

[ruben]

James

What fantasy world are you living in? I am born and raised in East L.A and we dont have a dont snitch policy we have a "dont get our A%#! killed" policy which is we are scared of retaliation from the offender so by you saying the community is giving free reign you are just ignorant, the lawmakers and police need to come up with better community and informant protection and better anonymous tipping without going to trial or things of that nature if you want it to change. So dont go blaming these poor hard working people of the ghettos that are just trying to live their lives and not bother anyone of giving these thugs a "free pass". We hate them just as much as you do and this is NO MOVIE there is no Charles Bronson or Stallone to save us at night when all the police leave the neighborhoods.

AB

Obviously you are a priveledge Latino living in a nice part of Paramount, but when you do call the cops who's HOME do they go to when, by the time they get to the neighborhood the crime is over, THAT'S RIGHT the person who called. And you dont think the neighborhood talks? If someone "Rats" people know the gang and criminals know. Look I'm not saying be scared and let them do what they want, but you guys dont have to live with these criminals after the police leave it's alot easier to talk a good game but how many of you actually LIVED in da hood or projects?

Like i said before if we find a way in our justice system to have these informants report things WITHOUT going to court or WITHOUT police showing up to their doorsteps i know more people will come forward.

Stop blaming these 80% of hardworking people who do not believe this stupid "Dont Snitch" policy, which is just a stupid term that hip hop rappers like The Game and 50 came up with and let's figure a real way out to stop the violence ....like first EDUCATION.

[bruiser80]

if the feds would hire someone like me i would go city to city and build cases and throw all highly active members away , with the technology and right recources ,money can end all this just hire x- gangmembers send them to new citys and assign them high risk areas and give good incentives . the game is dirty gangsters snitch also , so why not make money doing it . A Camera and some 007 tactics ill expose it all i dont care mexican gangs are way eaiser , weed out the bad and have the goodones with heads on there shoulders guide the young ones . gangs or groups will always be around its giving them a positive outlook and positive goals which takes positive surroundings , Vote Obama

[World full of cowards]

I use to live in Paramount and now I live in East by Soto & Chavez. I just cant believe people nowadays. The world is full of cowards who kill people and cowards who DO NOT REPORT it.
Yes I said it....
It is not the white man's fault but only YOUR FAULT.
I have walked to the union station and seen people beat woman and people just stand there and do nothing.
I am one of the few people who do something.
I am one of the few people and will call the police and provided them with the information needed.
I have seen crimes and reported and provided details of how they looked.
All a person has to do if they do not want to be known is not provided any of their information to the cops.
I am one of those people who do not fear someone dumb gangmembers coming to my home because I am the means to protect my family with my legal gun.

Again, I will say it, the world of full of cowards.

[daledo]

Ruben- Very good points. Well said.

[experience]

Has anyone made the connection between arms and drug dealers and this murder?
How do these items enter this country?
Why are they not controlled more effectively?
Does anyone see a future without violent crime?
We are not a starving people...what are people killing for? The feeling of power it brings? The tradition? The need to be a predator instead of a victim? I think sometimes in neighborhoods where a violent few (or organized many) intimidate the residents, some kids just tire of being scared, or hate their parents (like every adolescent) and find this incredibly risky group of friends who will "protect" and "befriend" them. Every adolescent is immortal, right?

As for the inane prattle called news peddled by conglomerate-controlled self-promoting Networks...reporting violent crime lowers property values.
I live in a semi-affluent area, no crimes are ever reported in the papers...except the community's self-published paper. It is bad business to bad mouth your own real estate. We all want safety and security.

Maybe gangs are the opposite of the news outlets, they let the risks of the real estate be honestly known, and since you're already a resident in the district, it seems an honest bargain...friends, parties, an e-z life, a life not like your parents (or sometimes just like it), a perfect opportunity to be cool, look cool....

Diana was a child.
The woman she could have become will be missed in this world.

[Beauty4Ashes]

I am just speechless! The only words I have are "rest in Jesus sweet child".
14yrs old!

[Homicide Blog Reader]

The Los Angeles Times has a tradition of regarding some lives as more important than others in reporting homicides. I've complained about it in letters to the editor, none of wich were published and the last of which I wrote in 1993, when a young black woman I knew was murdered in the Pico-LaBrea area. The Times ignored her killing while at the same time reporting on a purse-snatching a few miles west near the mall at Pico and Westwood.

That media indifference to some lives both reflects and reinforces attitudes in the community at large, and the law enforcement agencies that police that community are not immune to those attitudes. Scarce law enforcement resources are much more likely to be spent preventing, detecting and solving crimes on which the public's attention is focused. The media thus plays an important role in influencing where law enforcement resources are spent.

That many people regard the police as the last people on earth they want to call when there is trouble is entirely understandable.

For one thing, you can count on the police running a check on you yourself if you report a crime. Crime victims and bystanders who bother to report crimes or provide information about them sometimes end up in jail themselves. Jail one person who reports a crime, and he, his family and his friends won't make that mistake again. Multiply that a few hundred times and what you get is a general reluctance to report crime or provide information about crime.

For another, the police record in dealing with people who are emotionally troubled or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is atrocious. To call the police to deal with such a person is to put that person's life in jeopardy. Crazy little old ladies waving a pair of scissors get shot down. Apparently the police regard the mere possibility of a threat of slight injury to their pinky finger as justification for using lethal force. People pay attention to these incidents when they are reported. Such incidents lead to a general feeling among the people that the police are your enemies, not your friends, and not to be trusted to do the right thing. That translates into a general reluctance to call on them.

For yet another, people know the police are incompetent and lazy. They solve so few crimes that really matter, those that are usually accompanied by violence or the threat of violence--homicides, robberies, burglaries. They're much better at hassling suspected prostitutes and drug users. My upstairs neighbor once hailed a passing LAPD patrol car to report that a couple of strangers were in the process of walking out of my apartment with my VCR. The police watched without doing anything as the burglars drove away; they said my neighbor did not know that I had not authorized the removal of my VCR. Such stories are common. The most famous, of course, is Chief Daryl Gates bragging that he had a plan in the event of an urban riot and then the LAPD retreating as thugs took over the Florence and Normandie intersection. The only reason I would ever call the police about a burglary or theft is to provide myself with documentation justifying taking a tax deduction.

For still another, the police have been caught on videotape over and over again using excessive force and lying about it.

Finally, the people know the police lie on the witness stand. They've seen them "testi-lie" in well-publicized trials on the television. The police can't tell obvious lies in public and then expect the public to respect them.

Those who question whether the public views the LAPD in the ways I have outlined above should check out the way the public has voted on police bond issues. They regularly get voted down.

There is a general attitude that calling the police will not help and, indeed, may well make things worse. That attitude is not unjustified.