6 Alleged Gang Members Held in Pair of Shootings

Six suspected gang members from Pacoima were arrested in connection with a pair of shootings that left one man dead and another with possible brain damage, Los Angeles police said Monday.

Five men--Alberto Ramos, 25; Aurelio Aguirre, 18; Ivan Franco, 20; Jose Angulo, 21; and George Andrade, 23--were being held on suspicion of killing Efrain Rivera, 22, of Pacoima on Sunday, Det. Frank Bishop said.

A sixth man, 24-year-old Guillermo Magallanes, was arrested on a parole violation and may face additional charges in the shootings, Bishop said.

Rivera was pumping gas at a Pacoima station in the 12000 block of Van Nuys Boulevard about 1:20 p.m. Sunday when a white sport utility vehicle pulled up, Officer Jack Richter said. One of the SUV’s occupants apparently argued with Rivera before several shots were fired, Richter said.

Rivera was hit at least once in the chest and died later at an area hospital, Richter said.

About four hours later, near Carl Street and Pala Avenue, the same vehicle was spotted at the scene of another shooting, Bishop said. In the second incident, about 30 shots were fired, and one man was hit in the head, Bishop said.

The injured man, who was not identified, is expected to live, but faces the possibility of permanent brain damage, Bishop said.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned today.