LOS ANGELES, California – A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and other offenses after a shooting spree in southeastern Los Angeles County left four people dead, with two other defendants also facing charges in connection with the crimes, prosecutors announced on Thursday.
The teen was charged in juvenile court with four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the two-day killing spree that occurred on Feb. 11-12. During a court appearance, the juvenile denied the criminal petition, which is the juvenile court equivalent of a not-guilty plea.
Gary Garcia Jr., 42, and Timberland Wayne McKneely, 20, were previously charged with the same counts in connection with the shootings, which killed three men and a 14-year-old boy. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 29 in the Norwalk courtroom on the charges, which include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and shooting from a motor vehicle causing death.
Prosecutors revealed that McKneely has also been charged along with 18-year-old Joseivan Mendoza with the killings of two other men, aged 30 and 28, in Cudahy and an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County on Nov. 24, 2023. Specific details of those shootings were not immediately available. Mendoza is also expected to be arraigned on Feb. 29 and has not been linked to the Feb. 11-12 killing spree.
District Attorney George Gascón expressed his sympathy for the victims and their loved ones and emphasized the commitment to ensuring justice is served for the murders. He also commended law enforcement for their efforts in investigating the horrific crimes.
The suspects could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged, according to Gascón. The murder charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and shooting from a motor vehicle causing death.
Sheriff’s officials reported that the four people who died in the two-day killing spree last week were believed to have been targeted randomly by the suspects.
The first shooting in the killing spree occurred on Feb. 11, followed by another fatal shooting on Feb. 12. Two boys were shot during the spree, and another shooting took place in Huntington Park. Sheriff’s homicide investigators responded to all four shooting scenes and determined that a Honda Pilot SUV was present at each location around the time of the attacks.
The vehicle was spotted and stopped by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies, leading to the arrest of one suspect believed to be Garcia. Investigators were then able to identify the second suspect, who was arrested in Compton. The juvenile suspect was arrested on a later date.
Sheriff’s officials believe the suspects are gang members. However, there is no immediate word on a motive for the killings.