Westlake update: fatal shooting

            

Miguel Angel Guzman, a 16-year-old Latino youth, was killed in a gang shooting at 5th and Bonnie Brae streets in the Westlake area of Los Angeles about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. Above, a childhood picture of Guzman was placed at his memorial shrine.

Los Angeles Police Department officials said in a statement that Guzman, a former Belmont High School student, was walking on the sidewalk when three occupants inside a tan Saturn pulled up next to him. The front passenger of the car asked Guzman what gang he belonged to, the statement said. After Guzman responded with his gang name, the passenger exited the car and shot Guzman in the chest, the statement said.

Guzman was taken to L.A. County USC-Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers from LAPD's Rampart Division searched the area within minutes after the shooting and located the tan Saturn in the 400 block of Witmer Street, a block away from LAPD's new Rampart Station. Police arrested Norma Cortez, 43, and a Latino juvenile on suspicion of murder. A third person, a Latino man, escaped and remained at large, the statement said.

On Thursday, just a day after the shooting, a coroner official was unable to confirm the homicide at the intersection. The coroner official said to check back, because the body may still be at the hospital.

"We handle about 40 to 50 cases a day," said Lt. Cheryl  MacWillie of the Los Angeles coroner's office.  Not all of the cases are homicides, but MacWillie explains bluntly. "If there's a body on the street and a body at the hospital, which one do you think will get picked up first?"

On Saturday, flowers, a trucker hat and vigil candles were placed outside of an apartment building where Guzman was shot. Some people would pause to look, while others kept walking.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Rampart homicide Dets. John Motto or Michael Arteaga at (213) 484-3650. Callers can remain anonymous.

Photos: Left, Guzman's memorial shrine. Right, many of the sidewalks in this part of the Westlake area are dumping sites.

-Ruben Vives/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Chilly N]

"It dont matter" ---> it could be worse homey! You should feel fortunate you dont reside in "Cypress Park"

[onenminsd]

I live in San Diego and work with youth who have affiliation of gang activity. I do the very best to my ability to be of support to youth who have a desire to change their life style and strive to survive despite personal barriers and or lack of structured up bringing. Some may say that one may need to be from the streets, or have "street creditability" to be of any positive influence. There may be some truth to that so that gang members can identify with someone who understands their trails and tribulations. By default of my lack of street creditability I have learned to resort to a common interest / desire of respect as a method to reach youth and provide them with what resources they need to make a change. It is easy (and I speak from my personal experience) to pass judgment of another and passing judgment is no more effective than doing nothing at all. Ultimately gang involvement is a personal choice and those who identify and choose gangs as a source of personal fulfillment is an unfortunate decision and that is the reality of gang involvement...As a community we need to empower our youth to divert from youth from any gang involvement provide them with alternative constructive outlets of self expression and identification, talk to the children, let them know they are cared for, they are important and the choices they make are just as important as to who they are and want to become. Many youth today face adverse living situations and although not all become gang members few are able to make it because they were validated and made to feel important. It can be challenging to be of help to a child who does not know who to receive help for they may not see anything wrong with their chosen lifestyle, perhaps a more effective strategy lies within showing them something new that is obtainable and showing them how to obtain their personal dreams/ goals. When help is offered and not received or we are not able to offer help....we can always offer a prayer (and if possible let that youth now that you pray(ed) for them for the happiness, and well-being . l by the grace of GOD and support system of individuals who kept tabs on me and kept me in check helped me to be who I am today with simple basic values instilled as a youth a reinforced through out my adolescent years, I was able to make the choice to stay out of trouble. No victims other then those suffer the consequences of gang activity.....and tat everyone who does nothing,

[IT DONT MATTER]

LET ME TELL YOU MORE OF WHAT I SEE AS SO DAM LAME OF THIS TYPES OF SITUATIONS. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THAT DAM SIZZY LAME COUNCIL MEMBER (ED REYES) SEE, HE NEEDS TO STOP TAKING CREDIT FOR THAT DAM MCARTHUR PARK! EVERYTIME I SEE HIM COME OUT ON TV, HE'S ALWAYS AT THE PARK WITH THESE BIG O SMILES PRETENDING EVERYTHING IS ALL GOOD WITH THAT PARK. I SEE OTHER OFFICIAL TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS DAM PARK IS SUCH A SUCCESS. KILL THAT ALREADY!!! HOW COME HE DOESN'T COME OUT THE PARK BOUNDRIES TO TALK ABOUT HIS SUCCESSES. I SEE OTHER DISTRICTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY SERVICES TO ENHANCE THEIR COMMUNITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, STREET-BEAUTIFICATION...HE DOESN'T EVEN COME OUT DOING THAT. IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE VICTIMS PLACE OF DEATH, THERE'S SOME CABINETS AROUND HIS CANDLES, ENCIRCULATING THE CANDLES. SEE, THAT'S THE REAL REALITIES OF THIS DAM DISTRICT. ED REYES DOESN'T STEP UP TO THE REAL REALITIES OF HIS DISTRICT. HE SIMPLY SITS BACK AND PRETENDS HE DID SOMETHING BY PLANTING TREES AT THE PARK, BUT I KNOW THAT HE KNOWS HE'S HIDING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT DWELLS OUTSIDE THE PARK'S BOUNDRIES. AND ITS SAD THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING, I MEAN ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE, ANYTHING ENCOURAGING, ANYTHING INTERESTING...LET ME REMIND YOU OUTSIDE THE PARK. THERE'S SO MANY MURDER CASES HERE, THAT HAVE ZERO LIGHTS BESET UPON THEM CAUSE SIMPLY NOBODY CARES. I DONT CARE WHAT ANYBODY CAN SAY ABOUT IT. I LIVE THIS ENVIRONMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S A PLACE WHERE SIRENS AND CHOPPERS PUT AND EXCLAMATION POINT AND A PERIOD TO EVERY END OF THE NIGHT. WHILE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE SIMPLY LIVE THERE LIFE. SO TELL ME NOW. WAS HE SIMPLY A GANG MEMBER GETTING KILLED OR WAS HE SIMPLY LIVING HIS LIFE??? SO LETS WAKE UP PEOPLE, KILL ALL THE "HE SHOULD NEVER BEEN IN A GANG" "HE WAS A GANG MEMBER" AND SIMPLY CALL IT THE WAY LIFE DWELLS AROUND THE MOST UNFORTUNATE. ITS EASY TO SAY WHATEVER YOU THINK MAKES SENSE, BUT TRUST ME WHEN YOU LIVE IT, NOBODY, I MEAN, NOBODY CAN PROVE YOU WRONG OR CRITICIZE YOU, THEY "MUST" ONLY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE REALITIES OF THE LIFE IN DISTRICT 1...MAC ARTHUR PARK.

[Mother T.]

"It Don't Matter" wrote "MY HOMEBOY WHO GOT KILLED, HE DIED WITH DEDICATION AND LOYALTY TO THE CAUSE." What "cause" would that be? I'd really like to know.

Mother T

[Kate]

To It Don't Matter - You say this poor kid died with "dedication and loyalty to the cause". WHAT cause? A gang? How can anyone be so callous to life? He died a horrible death and his family will never get over the hurt. A gang is NOT a cause. It's a poor substitute for a life. You also say "that is for gang members to do." You mean it's ok to kill someone you don't know just because you're in a gang? Good Lord, how much of a dumb loser can you be??? Sadly, I see no future for you or your friends, and only grief for your family.

[DONT WORRY ABOUT IT]

YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT'S REAL RIDICULOUS AND SO SAD ABOUT THIS CASE....THAT YOU HAVE A GRANDMA WHO WAS INVOLVE IN THE MURDER OF YOUNG 16YR. OLD. I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK OF HOW DIFFERENT THIS STORY REALLY IS FROM A POINT OF VIEW OF A FORMER GANG-MEMBER. USUALLY YOU EXPECT THE SAME PEOPLE TO THE SAME THINGS, SPECIALLY IN GANGS. BUT THIS TIME IS A 43YR OLD WOMAN WHO I GUARANTEE YOU IF SHE WOULD'VE SAID NO TO THEM 2 G-MEMBERS, THAT LITTLE BOY WOULD'VE BEEN STILL ALIVE!!!!! HOW DOES A PERSON THAT AGE, SPECIALLY FEMALE, ALLOWS HERSELF TO SUCH POSITION AND VOLUNTEER LIKE THAT? I JUST WONDER WHAT WAS THAT MADE AGREE TO DO IT? TRUST ME THOSE ARE BIG DECISIONS EVEN THOUGH IN OUR LIFE IS THAT "NATURAL" JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

[Another Concerned Citizen]

Since this was Gang related, I think the Police should hold all of the Gang Members responsible for the actions of the shooter in all cases involving this type of behavior, it appears they (Gang Members) are all in agreement to shed the blood of the innocent as well as other Gangs to fight over territory we (average non-gang citizen) all pay taxes to share. When will this (Their petty bs rivalry) end.

May our prayers and condolences offer some sort of comfort to the victim and his family for their Loss. However it appears he was a rival gang member as well, and what do we say to this?

[CITIZEN]

JUST ROCKWOOD ST AND EIGHTEEN ST KILLIN EACH OTHER AGAIN.THE GUYS FROM ROCKWOOD ARE TRYING TO TAKE OVER ALL THAT AREA BUT ITS GONNA BE HARD FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVE HERE WITH ALL THE VIOLENC E THIS CAUSES.

[Another Concerned Citizen]

Is there any more details or information that can be given on this incident.

[Concerned Citizen]

The Victim who police described as a man Was actually a Latino Youth.