Cousins arrested in fatal shooting of 12-year-old boy in front of Wilmington school
The LAPD says they have arrested two cousins in the murder of a 12-year-old boy last year near a Wilmington school.
"Thank you Jesus that they were arrested because it was senseless," said neighbor Carmen Metcalf.
At a news conference Friday, the LAPD said they arrested 21-year-old Damian Ulysses Martinez and 19-year-old Gabriel Martinez in the murder of Alexander Alvarado, a 12-year-old boy who had been sitting in an SUV near Wilmington Park Elementary School. Damian Martinez is being held on $4 million bail, while Gabriel Martinez's bail has been set at $2 million.
Eddy Wang, special agent-in-charge of the Department of Homeland Security, described the two suspects as "dangerous gang members who have terrorized the Wilmington area." According to the LAPD, a criminal case against the cousins was sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Thursday for filing consideration.
Alexander was killed in the Dec. 6, 2021 shooting in the area of Denni Street and Blinn Avenue opened fire on the SUV that he was sitting in on Dec. 6, 2021. The driver of the SUV, a woman, and a 9-year-old girl at an after-school program at nearby Wilmington Park Elementary School were also injured by gunfire.
The wounded driver, identified by police as Evelyn Romero, was able to drive away and call 911 who sent first responders to meet them on North Eubank Avenue near East Anaheim Street.
Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene.
Alexander's mother and wife of Evelyn Romero, Jenny Romero, said they had just picked up his 10-year-old brother at the school. The brother was in the SUV at the time of the shooting but was not injured.
The boy's family was on hand at the news conference but did not speak.
"I'm sure these arrests do not bring a lot of satisfaction since Alexander is not here, however, on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, we share in the pain of having lost your young son at such a young age," Capt. Adrian Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said that police were investigating the cousins early on in the case but many witnesses didn't come forward.
"That was the challenging part when they're living in the community that might fear them," said Gonzalez. "They live among other community who might be afraid to give us any information."
While Alexander's family didn't speak during the news conference his mother later said she hopes people who witness violence will help detectives deliver justice to grieving families — a sentiment shared by others in the community.
"If you see it, tell it," said Metcalf. "Because it'll make you safe. It'll make this community safe for the working people like myself and my children and the school."
