PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — The victim of a gang-related shooting that took place Wednesday night was in police custody just hours after being released from a local hospital with a wound to the leg, arrested for interfering with a separate investigation into a gang member carrying a concealed weapon, police said.
The victim, and an 18-year-old resident whose identity was not released by police, was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly refused to cooperate with officers who wanted information on a suspected gang member who fled the location when officers arrived. Police found the suspect hiding in a closet in a nearby apartment. A gun was also found nearby. Police said when the suspect ran from police he was fidgeting with his waistband as if he had a weapon.
Officers placed the man who fled under arrest for being a suspected gang member in possession of a concealed weapon. The victim in Wednesday’s shooting was arrested for interfering with an investigation. Both were also booked with gang enhancements. A third person was arrested at the scene for outstanding warrants, said SMPD Sgt. Jay Trisler.
The arrests came just hours after the victim was shot in the leg along with a man in his 70s, who officers believe was an innocent bystander. That shooting occurred around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday near the corner of Seventh and Marine streets in the Borderline Neighborhood. Officers arrived to find the victims suffering from non life-threatening injuries. Witnesses said a white truck was involved.
Officers located the truck as it traveled northbound on Fourth Street onto Interstate-10 heading east. The driver refused to pull over. The pursuit ended when the suspects ditched the truck at the Centinela Avenue off-ramp and jumped down the embankment.
Armed with a helicopter, officers set up a perimeter that stretched from Bundy Drive south to Peal Street, and north to the I-10, Trisler said. Both suspects, 17 and 19, were apprehended within the perimeter by 10:30 p.m. No weapon was found. The suspects were booked for attempted murder. The juvenile was not eligible for bail. The 19-year-old suspect was identified as Salvador de la Cruz of Inglewood. His bail was set at just over $1 million.
Trisler said there is no evidence at this time linking the shooting to a stabbing last Friday following a Santa Monica High School football game against Venice. An Inglewood teen suffered non life-threatening injuries when he was stabbed several times as the crowd was leaving Corsair Field at Santa Monica College, where Samohi plays home games.
Both incidents are still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Michael Bambrick (310) 458-8937 or Sgt. Ira Rutan (310) 458-8959 or the on-duty Watch Commander (24 hours) (310) 458-8427.