Granada Hills: On Thursday, September 13, 2001 at approximately 2:55 PM, several students were walking home from Kennedy High School in the 11100 block of Woodley Avenue, when a red compact vehicle, driven by a male Hispanic, stopped near the group. An unidentified male Hispanic passenger exited the vehicle, armed with a firearm. The passenger asked what gang the group was from. Despite the fact that no one claimed any gang membership, the suspect fired several rounds at the group, striking one victim, once in the upper torso. The passenger then returned to the vehicle and the car sped south on Woodley Avenue, toward San Fernando Mission Boulevard. The victim Ricardo Floyd, a sixteen-year-old resident of Pacoima, died at the scene.

The identity of the two outstanding suspects is unknown. There is no further description of the suspects or vehicle available. The murder appears to have been gang motivated.

Devonshire Homicide Detectives, J. Fleming and B. Cochran are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call 818-756-8291

Information from several witnesses led to the identification of the two involved suspects, as well as the involved suspect vehicle. On Friday, September 14, 2001, at 2:00 AM, a search warrant and arrest warrant were served at the Pacoima residence of eighteen year-old Victor Celis. Celis was taken into custody without incident by members of the Devonshire Homicide Unit, and the Devonshire Community Law Enforcement And Recovery (CLEAR) Unit. A sixteen year-old male minor suspect was arrested outside of his Pacoima residence without incident, at 7:00 AM. A search warrant was served at his home. The vehicle, which is believed to have been used by the suspects during the commission of the murder, was located and impounded. It is uncertain whether either suspect is a member of a street gang. Both cases will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 for review.

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