Who:
Los Angeles Police Department’s Deputy Chief Willie L. Pannell, Captain James A. Miller, 77^th Street Area Detectives

What:
A Press Conference Announcing the Arrest of Wanted Homicide Suspects and Seizure of a Cache of Weapons

When:
Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 4:30 p.m.

Where:
Los Angeles Police Department, 77^th Street Area Community Police Station, 7600 S. Broadway

Los Angeles: On Wednesday, October 16, 2002, members of the Los Angeles Police Department, and other Law Enforcement agencies, served several arrest and search warrants within the City of Los Angeles.

Approximately 300 members of the Department were utilized for a major operation that involved the coordination and deployment of several LAPD divisions, and other Law Enforcement agencies including the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, California State Parole, and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. This complex and coordinated effort targeted 26 residences throughout the City of Los Angeles. In an effort to apprehend several dangerous wanted suspects, the officers focused their efforts on the recovery of evidence, including illegal firearms, used by a hardened criminal gang that has terrorized the residents of Los Angeles over the past year. The individuals arrested during this major operation are believed to be responsible for at least six homicides and fifteen shootings throughout the City of Los Angeles. As a result, eleven persons were arrested and booked for a variety of major crimes. Two suspects were booked for murder, several were booked for outstanding warrants and the remainder were booked for serious weapons violations.

At the press conference, weapons, including sawed-off shotguns, seized during the operation will be displayed.

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