6 people wounded in gang-related shooting in Highland Park, police say

Six people are in stable condition today after suffering gunshot wounds in a gang-related shooting in Highland Park, police said.

The victims were shot Saturday about 9:40 p.m. after two suspects in a car opened fire on a house party near Figueroa Street and Avenue 55, Los Angeles Police Officer Gregory Baek said. At least one of the victims was female.

Some of the victims are members of the Dogtown gang, and police believe the shooters may be connected to the Avenues gang, Baek said.

No arrests have been made.

-- Corina Knoll

Comments

[Chuck]

It is always tragic when you hear about something like this. I always worry about the innocent getting hurt or killed in situations like this. Gang violence is very different then other types of crime.
Cons Helping Cons

[Electric Grandma]

Frightening stuff. I live near this area. Makes you not want to leave the house, or have people over. If the round up of gang members city wide is supposed to put a dent in this stuff, why is it violent crime has just surged for the first time in a long while?

We really need to get to the root of why gangs exist in the first place and actually do something about this symptom of our society. There are very valid reasons being ignored by those in power and the communities/society at large. Perhaps we need to do something that works, instead of taking gang initiative monies and socking it into low flow toilets for parks and rec.

[GM Owner]

Typical LA ghetto activity. That's why I'm so glad to say that my family was smart to leave that cesspool of a neighborhood in the 80's. It will never change, no matter how the other surrounding neighborhoods, like Chicken, I mean Eagle Rock, try to become "hip". You can't change what Highland Park, Glassell Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and all of those neighboring burroughs are: cesspools and bastions for gang activity and a breeding ground for criminality with the high influx of those here illegally in this country, both from across the border and the Pacific Ocean.

No matter how many injunctions the CRASH team of the Northeast division of the LAPD seek against the gangs that live in these areas, they have their snitches in the dept. that are bought and paid for. That's how that LASD deputy met his demise- a paid off informant.

Dirty, filthy $$ clouds the oath that these law enforcement officers swear to uphold- to protect and serve the citizenry of the communities that they patrol.

You play with fire, you get burned. You lay with dogs, you get fleas. These communities? Like roach motels- the roaches check in and breed generations more that eventually go and infest neighborhoods more far reaching than the ghetto(s) where they were raised.

[Miguel Padilla]

It's sad to still here about gang related violence to this day. I don't know what drives people to choose this path and what they expect from it? While police are working to stop this activity to decrease the rates of the crime, I just hope the ones responsible get arrested for their actions.

[Saaed]

Exactly.....and this comes AFTER the massive media blitz focusing on the "crippling" operation to round up and shut down the Avenues gang. Only when law enforcement sees this as a condition that will not go away in one fell swoop will we start to notice a real and marked change. Constant and EFFECTIVE law enforcement, community outreach and challenging the youth to positively involve themselves in the community in a way that pays off....that is what I feel will bring peace to the Northeast (sorry....didn't mean to rhyme there). Until that happens, this way of life will be remanifested by these gang members younger brothers, cousins and the arrested members themselves who eventually get released and move back to the Avenidas.

[Lore]

My friends nephew was a victim. He was shot on the leg but his okay. It hasn't been the first time that there has been a shooting around there. So far I've seen 3 and its always when teenagers have there parties. Avenues always come to cause problems. I sure hope the police captures all the avenue memebers! They are the only ones that cause so much trouble in Highland Park!!!

[HLP Representative]

The avenues gang are very messy in their crimes and their work. Part of the reason they are sought after unlike Highland Park gang who are more calm and well organized. You don't see them running around like chickens with their heads cut off killing and looking for trouble. When the nights become longer they seek out conflicts drawing attention to themselves just so they can be the feared and powerful but they lose the respect. To be feared has little difference than to be respected. What i'm really trying to say since my family member was present is that every one gets their just desserts and everyone pays for what wrong they do in life I hope Avenues Gang Members realize they are destined for disaster. What Goes around comes around.

[jwzalesky]

I love LA !! It's such a nice peaceful place to live. I hope none of my kids get shot on their way to school.

I went to see a Dodger game last week. Only bad thing was my car got stolen before I got out of the game. I was hitching a ride home & some guys jumped outa their car & robbed me.

I hope my kids get in the right gang before they get beat up for not joining.

I love LA! It's so nice. I feel real safe with the new bars we put on our windows.

[Susan Rocha]

There are still shootings and other crimes going on in Northeast. But the city councilmembers want to put a hiring freeze on LAPD. And, Cypress Park can not get a permanent Senior Lead Officer (SLO) due to a freeze on promotions.

The mayor and city council promised more police. They said they increased our trash fees to pay for more police. They lied. And, what are they doing now? They are cutting police!!

Call the mayor and your city councilmember and tell them NOT to cut police and NOT to put a hiring freeze on promotions.