Who:
Acting Commanding Officer of West Bureau Paul Kim, Commanding Officer of Wilshire Area Police Station Captain III Kirk Albanese, Wilshire Homicide Detectives, U.S. Marshall Representatives and Family Members of Joseph Swift.

What:
Press Conference to Announce the Arrest of James Bartel Collier and Update Information on Dwayne Deshon Pearson.

When:
Monday, April 14, 2003, 11: 00 a.m.

Where:
Wilshire Area Police Station, 4861 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles

UPDATE

On Saturday, April 12, 2003, James Bartel Collier was captured by U.S. Marshals in the City of Henderson, Nevada. Collier was booked on a Los Angeles Murder warrant and is currently being held in the Clark County Detention Center.

Los Angeles: On March 23, 2003, at approximately 2:06 p.m., Wilshire Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of a shooting in the 1800 block of West Blvd. Upon their arrival, they discovered the victim, 13 year-old Joseph Swift with a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had attended a church function just prior to the shooting. After exiting the church, the victim walked across the street when unidentified suspects drove by and began shooting at pedestrians in front of the location. Thirteen year-old Joseph Swift was struck by gunfire and was the only one hit. Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and transported Swift to a local hospital, where he died as a result of his wounds.

On March 29, 2003, the suspects were identified as 25 year-old Dwayne Deshon Pearson and 24 year-old James Bartel Collier.

Anyone with information regarding this matter is urged to contact Wilshire Homicide Detectives at 213-473-0444. On weekends and after hours, contact the toll free 24-hour number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877 LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer, Lucy Diaz, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.