Los Angeles- Los Angeles Police Department detectives have arrested two suspects for their involvement in the gang-related shooting of a two-month-old baby girl that occurred on November 24, 2000.

On November 24, 2000, at 7:15 p.m., the mother of two-month old Andrea Gomez was picking up her boyfriend, a known Van Nuys area gang member, in the 18100 block of Gault Street, Reseda. Andrea was seated in an infant car seat in the back of the vehicle when another car drove up. A passenger in the second vehicle exited and, using a large caliber semi-automatic pistol, shot two rounds into the victim’s vehicle striking the baby in the chest. The suspects sped off in a 1986, brown Chevrolet Blazer. The baby was transported to Northridge Hospital in critical condition, but has since made a nearly complete recovery.

A recent development in the investigation by Los Angeles Police Department detectives revealed the identity of the suspects. They are Javier Armando Payan, 21 years of age and Michael Arreygue, 20 years of age. Payan was taken into custody without incident. Arreygue is currently in state prison serving a ten-year sentence for Assault with a Deadly Weapon for an unrelated incident that occurred in Van Nuys in 2001.

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office and formal multiple charges of Attempted Murder and Assault with a Deadly Weapon were filed against both suspects. Payan was arraigned on December 12, 2003 in Van Nuys Superior Court. He is being held on 2.1 million dollar bail. Arreygue will be transferred to Van Nuys Superior Court where he will be arraigned.

West Valley Detectives are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident are urged to contact Detectives Brad Roberts or Steve Park at 818-345-2210. On weekends and during off-hours, please call the 24-hour toll free number at Detectives Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.