LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with a series of shootings in Southern California that resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a 14-year-old boy, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The shootings, which occurred in southeast Los Angeles County, took place within hours of each other late Sunday night and early Monday morning. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating the killings, which happened in the cities of Bell, Cudahy, and Huntington Park, as well as in the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles. Authorities have recovered a red Honda Pilot SUV believed to be involved in the shootings.
The vehicle and its license plate number were identified by investigators soon after the homicides, leading to a traffic stop in San Bernardino County. Sheriff’s deputies were able to apprehend one of the suspects during the stop. The second suspect was identified through other investigative techniques and was arrested after a SWAT team served a search warrant at a home. The suspects were identified as 42-year-old Gary Garcia and 20-year-old Timberland Wayne McNeely, who are believed to be members of a gang.
There is a belief held by homicide detectives that a third suspect may still be at large. “It appears that this was a random murder spree,” said L.A. County Sheriff’s Capt. Andrew Meyer during a news conference.
One of the victims was 14-year-old Javier Pedraza Jr., who was killed early Monday morning in Cudahy. Another boy was wounded and hospitalized in stable condition during the same shooting. A GoFundMe page has been created in honor of Javier. The fundraised money will be used for his funeral expenses.
The other shootings took place in Bell, Florence-Firestone, and Huntington Park. According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office, one of the victims has been identified as 24-year-old Kevin Parada. His mother, Teresa, confirmed that her son was at a friend’s house when he was murdered. The names of the other deceased victims have been withheld by the medical examiner’s office, pending notification of their families.
Anyone with information about the killings has been asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.