Teen-Ager Slain, 5 Youths Hurt in Shootings

One teen-ager was killed and five other youths wounded in four unrelated incidents around the county, two of them gang-related drive-by shootings, police said Thursday.

The fatal shooting was sparked by a long-simmering family feud between Arleta neighbors, according to police. Carlos Alvarez, 17, died soon after he and his 18-year-old brother, Gilbert, were struck in the chest by bullets fired by Trevor Griffith, 35, police said.

“These two families just didn’t like each other,” Lt. Bernard Conine said.

Griffith surrendered to police shortly after the shooting Wednesday afternoon in the 14100 block of Filmore Street, Conine said. Griffith is being held without bail awaiting arraignment

In Inglewood, three teen-age boys were wounded in gang-related drive-by shootings, police said.

Near Grandmother’s Home

Nathan Vaughn, 17, was standing on a corner outside the home of his grandmother Wednesday night in the 220 block of West 76th Street with three friends when a car crammed with six people and a pickup truck carrying 10 pulled up to the group.

“One of the people in the car yelled a gang slogan at the kids and someone in the (car) aimed at him and fired six shots,” Inglewood Sgt. Harold Moret said.

Vaughn was struck in the shoulder and released after being treated at Daniel Freeman Hospital. Moret said Inglewood police have no motive for the shooting, adding that the victim is not suspected of gang involvement.

On the other side of Inglewood at around the same time, two brothers received minor wounds when they were struck by a shotgun blast in the 1000 block of East Fairview Boulevard. Glen and Chris Love, 16 and 17, were found by police hiding in bushes.

Moret said that youths in a brown sedan shouted a gang slogan and fired a blast that hit the Loves in the arms and legs. The brothers, who told police they have no gang affiliation, were treated at a hospital and released.

The shooting on Fairview surprised both police and residents, who say the neighborhood has been unscathed by gang violence.

Dudley Justice, a resident for 15 years, said he must walk 4 miles a day as therapy for a heart condition. Now, he said, “I think I might drive over to another neighborhood for my daily walks.”

In a drive-by incident in Alhambra on Wednesday afternoon, an unidentified 12-year-old girl was shot in the arm while standing in her front yard, police said. Police said the assailants were involved in a shouting match with the girl and friend moments before the shooting.

Meanwhile, an 8-year-old girl caught in gang cross fire Tuesday afternoon after buying a lollipop at a South-Central Los Angeles store remained in serious condition at County-USC Medical Center.