"They were all gang members and they are all part of one gang - the Echo Park gang," said Northeast Division Captain Bill Murphy during an afternoon news conference at the Metropolitan Dispatch Center downtown. The alleged shooter, Andre Upshaw of Pasadena, is also associated with the same gang.
Murphy and others present declined to say what the feud might be about. While the notion of a dispute within the gang has raised fears of further bloodshed, Murphy said that a feud
with a rival gang probably would have been more likely to trigger violent retaliation. The shootings claimed the lives of Eric Zamarripa, 38, who is considered one of the leaders of the Echo Park gang, and Carlos Gonzales, 37, of Highland Park. William Vargas, 33, of Echo Park was injured."Many of these residents of the community have experienced gun violence between rival gangs," Murphy said. "We want to assure the community that, this being an internal conflict, there is far less of a threat to the community of any random shootings occurring in the future."
Other details from today's news conference:
* More than 30 detectives flooded Echo Park to interview witnesses and other residents following the shootings. One patrol car has been dedicated to focus on Echo Park Avenue, said Murhpy.
* There are an estimated 158 Echo Park gang members but only about 98 are active. That may still sound like a lot but the Echo Park gang remains relatively small. The Avenues Gang, for example, claims about 1,000 members.
* Councilman Eric Garcetti, who lives only about three blocks from the Echo Park shooting scene, said he heard the gunshots from his home. "The calm of that Sunday was ripped apart, though, when many of us heard the familiar pop-pop-pop that sometimes is fire crackers but unfortunately too often is gunfire. As one can imagine, chaos ensued. People running around. Screams."
Police will be present to discuss the shooting Thursday night at a community meeting.
Related Links & Posts:
Audio of LAPD News conference on shootings. The Eastsider
You don't have to live in Echo Park anymore to be part of the gang. The Eastsider
Do you feel safe or sad now that Eric Zamarripa is gone from Echo Park. The Eastsider
Suspected gang member arrested in three Sunday shootings. LA Times
EP Shootings. Chicken Corner
6 comments:
It saddens me that a young man with a wife and kids was gunned down in front of his home when he was doing what a typical person does on a Sunday evening in his yard. Whether he was a gang member or not, he was not gang banging when this occurred. The family in West Covina that was gunned down on Christmas Eve of 2008, was not gang banging either. Anyone who feels "relief" that he is gone has not been a victim of a violent crime. Until you have walked in our shoes, you have no right to judge Eric, especially now that he is gone. Why didn't you talk to him when he was alive?
we live in a neighborhood not a gang, i knew eric since he was a lil boy he will be greatly missed even if i am in las vEGAS NOW . REST IN PEACE HOMIE........LOVE MR. LONELY
ECHO PARK TILL I DIE
"Anonymous said...
ECHO PARK TILL I DIE"
Good, go die. Tell eric that the neighborhood has been doing great without him.
The All-Seeing Eye of Echo Park must be a brown eye A.K.A. A-hole, for posting his last comment. Why do you wish death on someone you don't know, who has pride for his hood. You make the comment like he's from ExP gang, but you really don't know if they are a gang member or not. Take off your blinders, cause your not seeing everything. That comment is just ignorant. Do something or say something that will bring people together, and not cause hate towards others. I didn't know Eric, but I'm sure that his friends would sure like to meet you. E.P. L.A. for life.
And El in Angelino must have his head up his own brown eye.
Nothing like being lectured by someone about being ignorant who says "I didn't know Eric" to tell me about keeping my opinions to myself.
I know exactly who Eric was. This wasn't some random act of violence, he was targeted because of his affiliations.
But hey don't take my word for it, here's ERICS OWN UNCLE:
"Eric was not without demons. He struggled with gang issues which landed him in jail and alienated him from those who cared. Like many young Latinos who grew up in similar arduous environments Eric was a product of his surroundings, as wild and elusive as the hills of old Echo Park. He was smitten by the Cholo lifestyle, its long history of tradition and lascivious behavior, his father and grandpa themselves were part of the lore."
So please, El, enlighten us; Who was the real Eric Zamarripa?
All I see on this board is 'U dont know him shut up'.
So, in all sincerity, please tell me.
No more of this 'you ignorant hipster' BS (of which I'm not, I'm just a regular 2nd generation latino who'd like to see the neighborhood gang-free).
But please spare us 'the loving family man' crap, that doesn't tell us anything.
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