A suspect who police believe is responsible for killing three people and wounding a 1-year-old in two separate shootings in September in the Harbor City and San Pedro areas has been arrested, with charges expected to be announced Thursday, authorities said.
A news conference was planned for Thursday morning at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Area Station to release details in the investigation.
Among those expected to attend the news conference are LAPD commanders from the South Bureau and Harbor Area; South Bureau homicide detectives; a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney; and Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker.
The suspect’s name was not immediately available.
According to police, the suspect is believed responsible for the following crimes:
— On Sept. 4, 2023, Carlos Loera, 21, and Ashley Guzman, 18, were shot and killed in the 1000 block of 253rd Street in Harbor City. Their 1-year-old child was also struck by the gunfire but survived his injuries.
According to police, the shooting occurred at 6:37 p.m. that day when a gunman approached a vehicle occupied by the three victims and fired several shots at them. Loera died at the scene and Guzman died at a hospital. The child was treated at a hospital and released to family members.
— On Sept. 30, 2023, Joseph Saldana, 17, was shot and killed in the 1200 block of North Park Western Drive in San Pedro. According to police, Saldana was shot about 11:30 p.m. that day outside a house party at a residence in the 1200 block of North Park Western Drive.
Saldana was with three other people when one or more suspects approached them on foot and shot them, the LAPD reported.
Saldana was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victims, apparently in their early 20s, were hospitalized in stable condition, according to police.