2 arrested in 'random murder spree' in southeast LA that killed 4, including juvenile

Los Angeles authorities said they have arrested two alleged gang members in connection with a "random murder spree" within a 5-mile radius of southeast Los Angeles County that occurred over the weekend.

Gary Jonathan Garcia Jr., 42, and Timberland Wayne McKneely, 20, were arrested in connection with a string of four shootings, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Tuesday.

"The last 48 hours have been difficult and terrifying for our southeast LA community," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Authorities located the first victim after receiving a call of shots fired at around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday in the city of Bell, around 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, LASD Homicide Division Capt. Andrew Meyer said. The adult male victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just after midnight on Monday, deputies responded to a second call in a shopping center parking lot more than 3 miles away in unincorporated Los Angeles and found another adult male shooting victim who was also pronounced dead.

The next call came in just 12 minutes later in the city of Cudahy, leading authorities to find two boys who had been "near a K through 8 school," according to LASD East Station Capt. Brandon Dean. One boy died at the scene and the other was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he is in stable condition.

Also in the early hours of Monday, a Huntington Park police officer stopped to check on a man lying in the street, Meyer said. The man had been struck with multiple bullets, and was later pronounced dead by the fire department.

Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano said the victim, who was known to be experiencing homelessness, was "randomly targeted."

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Authorities link 4 incidents to same vehicle

Officials linked the four incidents to a red Honda Pilot captured in surveillance camera footage taken at each of the crime scenes. On Monday afternoon, the car was identified as an "armed and dangerous wanted felony vehicle," according to Meyer.

Garcia was arrested when San Bernardino authorities spotted the car by its license plate and pulled it over in a traffic stop. The second suspect was arrested later while authorities carried out a search warrant of a home in Compton, Meyer said.

Garcia's criminal history is "extensive," while McKneely has no criminal history, according to Meyer. Both are believed to be gang members, Meyer said.

Although the killings appeared "random," Meyer said, "homicide investigators have not ruled out that there may be other incidents linked to the same suspects." Meyer said investigators are searching for a third suspect believed to be involved in the killings.

Garcia and McKneely face charges of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. They are both being held on $2 million bail and will be arraigned in court later this week, according to the LASD. It's unclear if Garcia or McKneely have attorneys who can comment on their behalf.

Bell Police Chief Carlos Islas asked the district attorney's office to "do the right thing and do their job to prosecute them to the full extent of the law." Any enhancements to the existing charges, Islas said, would "remain to be seen" as the investigation continues.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at cmayesosterman@usatoday.com. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 alleged gang members arrested in southeast LA 'random murder spree'