Four teen adults — all described by the sheriff’s department as gang members — have been arrested and charged in the killing of a 23-year-old bystander who was shot in Artesia, authorities said Wednesday.
The victim, identified by the coroner’s office as Bryan Anthony Mares of Colton, was fatally wounded about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, according to Deputy Edmo Luna of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Deputies responding to the 11800 block of Arkansas Street regarding a call of a gunshot victim located a man in the driveway of a home suffering from gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s department reported.
“It appears he did not live at the location and was shot while walking along the sidewalk and ran into the driveway, where he collapsed,” according to a department statement.
Paramedics rushed the man to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators received information about another shooting that occurred approximately 20 minutes earlier near the corner of Clarkdale Avenue and 168th Street.
A man was struck by gunfire and driven to an area hospital, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to the sheriff’s department.
After the second shooting, deputies patrolling the area of Cheshire Street in Norwalk spotted a parked vehicle that matched the one described in the shooting call, Luna said.
“The deputies contacted four male Hispanics (who were) surrounding the suspected vehicle and would later arrest all four after discovering evidence linking them and the vehicle to the earlier shootings,” Luna said.
The suspects were identified as Anthony Martinez Garibo and Daniel Orozco, both 19, and Adrian Nunez and Isaac Miranda, both 18.
They were charged Tuesday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count each of murder, attempted murder and two counts each of shooting from an occupied vehicle, officials said.
It’s further alleged that Garibo personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, according to the district attorney’s office.
All four men were being held in lieu of $3.29 million bail and were due to be arraigned on Monday in Norwalk, officials said.
Investigators allege the suspects entered Artesia in a blue Chevrolet Impala and encountered a rival gang member, described as male Hispanic adult, on the corner of Clarkdale and 168th, Luna said.
“A verbal altercation ensued and gunshots were exchanged between both parties,” Luna said. “The suspects in the vehicle fled the area, however the male adult was struck by gunfire and transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.”
About 20 minutes later, the suspects allegedly returned to the area of the shooting and shots were fired from the vehicle at a man, later identified as Mares, who was walking in the 1100 block of Arkansas Street, Luna said.
Mares “appears to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time…,” according to Luna, who said a handgun was recovered at the scene of the arrest.
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