A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of murder for a gang-related shooting at a Monrovia bar that left one man dead and two others wounded, and two other people are behind bars on charges that they harbored and assisted their son, who is still being sought in connection with the killing, Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators announced Friday.
William LaCroix Jr., 34, and Erika Torres, 33, both of Monrovia, were apprehended by Monrovia police as they allegedly fled from the shooting at Gem City Grill in the 100 block of East Olive Avenue shortly after midnight on Dec. 2, Lt. Derrick Alfred told reporters at a news conference at the sheriff’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
The two are charged with one count each of murder in the death of 43- year-old Michael Lowe of Monrovia, along with four counts each of attempted murder and two counts each of resisting an executive officer, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges include gang allegations.
LaCroix’s 31-year-old brother is still being sought in connection with the shooting, Alfred said. Jeremiah Moses LaCroix — who has multiple tattoos on his face, head and body — allegedly pulled out a gun after he and his older brother engaged in a verbal confrontation that escalated into a fight with several gang members inside the bar, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Two rival gang members and an innocent patron were struck by gunfire inside the bar, according to the sheriff’s department, which obtained video surveillance footage of the suspects entering the bar.
Jeremiah LaCroix’s parentsm who live in Commerce, are accused of helping him avoid apprehension after the shooting.
William LaCroix Sr., 57, is charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact, while Ana Guerrero, 53, is charged with two counts of being an accessory after the fact.
All four have pleaded not guilty and are due back in a Pasadena courtroom Jan. 16, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial.
Also being sought along with Jeremiah LaCroix are Jacob Webb, a 29- year-old man who goes by the moniker “King Khash” and is accused of assisting Jeremiah LaCroix avoid apprehension after the shooting, and the alleged getaway driver, a male Hispanic with the possible name of “Alfonso” who drives a white Toyota Camry or a similar type of vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department.
Anyone with information in the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau at (323) 890-5500m or call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS to provide information anonymously.