Gangster Disciples takin over Cali
Forum rules
Excluding Los Angeles, discuss all other California cities and counties.
Excluding Los Angeles, discuss all other California cities and counties.
Gangster Disciples takin over Cali
Victim's mom seeks $10 million from city, county
By: JENNIFER KABBANY - Staff Writer
VISTA ----- The mother of a 25-year-old Vista resident who was shot and killed in a gang battle in Brengle Terrace Park last August has filed a $10 million wrongful death claim against the city and San Diego County.
Keric Mitchell's mother, Barbara, alleges in her claim that "Keric did not receive any medical attention and further, witnesses were ordered not to render any assistance to Keric nor to transport him to the hospital."
Barbara Mitchell seeks $10 million in damages, charging a loss of society, comfort, companionship, attention, services and support from her deceased son.
The claim alleges the failure to render medical assistance was either intentional or so reckless that the city and county should pay punitive damages.
The City Council will decide Tuesday at its council meeting whether to accept or reject the claim. City Attorney Wayne Dernetz said Friday that the city's risk management department reviewed the claim, investigated it "to the extent that was available," and concluded it should be rejected.
"All we can say is on the basis of the claim, we don't have enough information to conclude the city should pay money," Dernetz said. "It's a very tragic circumstance, everybody feels compassion for the victim as well as for the victim's family and friends. But having compassion does not necessarily translate into any duty or obligation into paying money."
Kapualani Brown, the county's claims supervisor, said Friday that the claim is under investigation. The county is named in the claim, she said, because Vista contracts with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement services, and one of the county's agencies is the Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department and the Vista Fire Department were called to the park to handle the investigation and treat the wounded.
The shooting happened at 5:36 p.m. on a warm, Sunday evening when Brengle Terrace Park was crowded with people.
Keric Mitchell was killed and three bystanders ---- a 3-year-old boy and his mother and a 16-year-old girl ----- were shot in the melee, according to Lt. Terry Wisniewski. Most of those involved fled before deputies arrived.
A Vista Fire Department official said Friday that an ambulance and fire engine were dispatched at 5:42 p.m., en route at 5:43 p.m. and arrived at 5:47 p.m.
Barbara Mitchell's claim alleges that Keric Mitchell was alive for 45 to 90 minutes without receiving medical attention and died at the park.
The claim also asks for $14,500 for funeral expenses, $3,000 for funeral-related transportation expenses and $3,000 in lost wages.
This week, homicide detectives arrested three suspected gang members in connection with the Aug. 17 shooting.
Wisniewski said recently that he believes Keric Mitchell was shot in a gang fight between the Deep Valley Crips and the Gangster Disciples, adding that the Deep Valley Crips are an Oceanside gang and the Gangster Disciples are a gang based out of Chicago.
On March 12, Detective Chris Serritella and a San Diego District Attorney's investigator went to Chicago and with help from local police arrested two men, Wes Averhart, 26, and Trevell Averhart, 22, on suspicion of murder, he said. On Sunday, another team of investigators traveled to Oklahoma City and with help from local police also arrested Curtis Stone, 27, on suspicion of murder, the lieutenant said.
Capt. Earl Wentworth, the highest-ranking Sheriff's Deputy in Vista, did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday. Michael Klein, the Oceanside-based attorney representing Barbara Mitchell, and Vista Mayor Morris Vance declined to comment.
Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (760) 631-6622 or jkabbany@nctimes.com.
Previous Story: Spring arrives in San Diego County
Next Story: 'Massive' drug sweep under way
By: JENNIFER KABBANY - Staff Writer
VISTA ----- The mother of a 25-year-old Vista resident who was shot and killed in a gang battle in Brengle Terrace Park last August has filed a $10 million wrongful death claim against the city and San Diego County.
Keric Mitchell's mother, Barbara, alleges in her claim that "Keric did not receive any medical attention and further, witnesses were ordered not to render any assistance to Keric nor to transport him to the hospital."
Barbara Mitchell seeks $10 million in damages, charging a loss of society, comfort, companionship, attention, services and support from her deceased son.
The claim alleges the failure to render medical assistance was either intentional or so reckless that the city and county should pay punitive damages.
The City Council will decide Tuesday at its council meeting whether to accept or reject the claim. City Attorney Wayne Dernetz said Friday that the city's risk management department reviewed the claim, investigated it "to the extent that was available," and concluded it should be rejected.
"All we can say is on the basis of the claim, we don't have enough information to conclude the city should pay money," Dernetz said. "It's a very tragic circumstance, everybody feels compassion for the victim as well as for the victim's family and friends. But having compassion does not necessarily translate into any duty or obligation into paying money."
Kapualani Brown, the county's claims supervisor, said Friday that the claim is under investigation. The county is named in the claim, she said, because Vista contracts with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement services, and one of the county's agencies is the Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department and the Vista Fire Department were called to the park to handle the investigation and treat the wounded.
The shooting happened at 5:36 p.m. on a warm, Sunday evening when Brengle Terrace Park was crowded with people.
Keric Mitchell was killed and three bystanders ---- a 3-year-old boy and his mother and a 16-year-old girl ----- were shot in the melee, according to Lt. Terry Wisniewski. Most of those involved fled before deputies arrived.
A Vista Fire Department official said Friday that an ambulance and fire engine were dispatched at 5:42 p.m., en route at 5:43 p.m. and arrived at 5:47 p.m.
Barbara Mitchell's claim alleges that Keric Mitchell was alive for 45 to 90 minutes without receiving medical attention and died at the park.
The claim also asks for $14,500 for funeral expenses, $3,000 for funeral-related transportation expenses and $3,000 in lost wages.
This week, homicide detectives arrested three suspected gang members in connection with the Aug. 17 shooting.
Wisniewski said recently that he believes Keric Mitchell was shot in a gang fight between the Deep Valley Crips and the Gangster Disciples, adding that the Deep Valley Crips are an Oceanside gang and the Gangster Disciples are a gang based out of Chicago.
On March 12, Detective Chris Serritella and a San Diego District Attorney's investigator went to Chicago and with help from local police arrested two men, Wes Averhart, 26, and Trevell Averhart, 22, on suspicion of murder, he said. On Sunday, another team of investigators traveled to Oklahoma City and with help from local police also arrested Curtis Stone, 27, on suspicion of murder, the lieutenant said.
Capt. Earl Wentworth, the highest-ranking Sheriff's Deputy in Vista, did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday. Michael Klein, the Oceanside-based attorney representing Barbara Mitchell, and Vista Mayor Morris Vance declined to comment.
Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (760) 631-6622 or jkabbany@nctimes.com.
Previous Story: Spring arrives in San Diego County
Next Story: 'Massive' drug sweep under way
The Gangster Disciples gang is becoming more active in northern San Diego County. It is apparently trying to unite African-American gangs that operate in areas such as Oceanside and San Marcos under its control. These gangs, usually Crips, have an estimated membership of 300. According to law enforcement sources, the Gangster Disciples gang has been in the area about 1¾ years. Law enforcement has identified approximately 80 members of the gang and estimates its numbers at 200 to 250. The Gangster Disciples gang deals almost exclusively in powdered and crack cocaine, and it taxes other dealers who distribute drugs in areas under its control. The gang is also known to deal in weapons.
-
- Light Heavy Weight
- Posts: 1865
- Joined: August 8th, 2003, 2:27 pm
- What city do you live in now?: West Los
-
- Light Heavy Weight
- Posts: 1865
- Joined: August 8th, 2003, 2:27 pm
- What city do you live in now?: West Los
I'm not gonna lie I saw GD taggings that were toy in NELA around the HLxP area. It could be a coincidence that they both have the same initials but I dont know if they also go by Gangsta Deciples.
What I know for sure though when the big Chi Town gangs come to LA they dont bang that Chi culture down here, they reppin that LA gang culture. Ask the BPS and LKz....
If GDz really commin down watch they too get turnt out.
But I'll tell ya, I ran into a Chi Town cat before in Down Town LA, these fooz got alot of pride where they come from.
What I know for sure though when the big Chi Town gangs come to LA they dont bang that Chi culture down here, they reppin that LA gang culture. Ask the BPS and LKz....
If GDz really commin down watch they too get turnt out.
But I'll tell ya, I ran into a Chi Town cat before in Down Town LA, these fooz got alot of pride where they come from.
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: April 4th, 2004, 6:07 pm
- Country: United States
- If in the United States: California
- What city do you live in now?: SJ
- Location: WWW
yea he did well all know that but there are G^.D^. in cali but i dotn knwo how they roll i here they be gunning and holding there shyt down in small suburban lil areas soon we will spread you going to see.we are much larger than them lame a$$ crips is anything they will turn G^.D^. that real 6^ not us turning crabky.
-
- Light Heavy Weight
- Posts: 1865
- Joined: August 8th, 2003, 2:27 pm
- What city do you live in now?: West Los
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 5147
- Joined: February 12th, 2004, 9:17 pm
- Location: Los Angeles
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: April 4th, 2004, 6:07 pm
- Country: United States
- If in the United States: California
- What city do you live in now?: SJ
- Location: WWW
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: April 4th, 2004, 6:07 pm
- Country: United States
- If in the United States: California
- What city do you live in now?: SJ
- Location: WWW
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 5147
- Joined: February 12th, 2004, 9:17 pm
- Location: Los Angeles
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: April 4th, 2004, 6:07 pm
- Country: United States
- If in the United States: California
- What city do you live in now?: SJ
- Location: WWW
-
- Super Heavy Weight
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: April 4th, 2004, 6:07 pm
- Country: United States
- If in the United States: California
- What city do you live in now?: SJ
- Location: WWW