Another Gang Related Shooting Murder and a $25,000 Reward Offered
By Alejandro A Alonso
Staff Writer,Streetgangs.com Magazine
December 23, 2002
Boyle Heights - On November 24, 2002, Manuel Palacios, 41, was gunned down while he removed groceries from his car when attempting to go into his apartment on the 1300 block of Dacotah Street in the Wayvernwood Garden Homes. Groceries and spilled milk covered the sidewalk while his son and wife held him hoping that the wounds would not be fatal. Unfortunately he would become another victim of gang violence and even more devastating is that Palacios just moved there 3 weeks prior, and was the unintended target of a conflict between two gangs. Captain Paul Pesqueira, of the Hollenbeck Division told Streetgangs.com that Palacios was struck with a stray round around 7:30 pm. and that it has been tough solving this case. He hopes that the community can step forward and provide the crucial information that will lead to an arrest. His wife, Elizabeth Palacios, said that Manuel was "the best father and best husband" and hoped for an arrest soon.
Captain Paul Pesqueira, of the Hollenbeck Division Wayvernwood is home to the Varrio 8 gang, and on that day three members were standing near the building where Mr. Palacios resided. One of the main rivals to Varrio 8 are the Varrio Nuevo Estrada Gang (VNE) whose turf is located in the Estrada Courts Housing Projects just east of the Wayvernwood homes and directly across Dacotah street on the other side of Hostetter Park (AKA Lou Costello Jr. Recreation Center, View Map).
A member from VNE entered the park from the east side on Vista Grande and began shooting at the three members of the Varrio 8 from the park. Casing were later retrived from the park. In the cross fire, Mr. Palacios was hit and later retired from his wound. The shooter, who is believed to be an 18 or 19 year old member form VNE has been hiding out in a hotel. Some sources say that he has left Los Angeles and may be in Orange County. The person involved in this shooting is not well liked in the neighborhood and looks to be captured after the holiday hype settles early next year.
Young girl points to bullet hole left in door from another shooting. During the press conference at the Hollenbeck Police Station, Nick Pacheco announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this shooting. When hearing of this significant reward being issued, it reminded me of the shooting of innocent bystander Karen Toshima, 27, who was enjoying an evening out in the Westwood Village of Los Angeles, an area adjacent to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The media and press coverage of this event was widespread and significant investigative attention was given by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to the Westwood shooting than to those that occurred in other areas of Los Angeles, specifically the South-central area. The night of the shootings alone, members of LAPD's CRASH (Community Resources against Street Hoodlums) unit brought in forty people for questioning. Thirty officers were assigned to investigate this shooting, and then City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky suggested that the city council offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the killer.
The attention of the Toshima shooting received much criticism in 1988 because compared to how the LAPD had responded to the inner city, where gang rivalry and territorial disputes had been part of the landscape for years, the attention this shooting received was unprecedented. South Los Angeles citizens were outraged by the extra attention given to this case as they saw Westwood triple its police presence. Councilman Robert Farrel was even quoted as saying, "Unfortunately there is a perception that a life lost in South Los Angeles and East LA does not measure up to a life lost in [Westwood]". Farrel would not be saying that today because it was in Boyle Heights where a similar reward was being issued in search for someone whose main hangout was the projects of Estrada Courts.
Elizabeth Palacios, the wife of the slain victim speaking with the Spanish television stations. Members from the community believe that more police and patrols will be able to bring calm to the community. People from the Wayvernwood Garden Homes blame Varrio 8th Street for all the problems with gang shootings. Even though VNE, and another gangs north of the area have been in this neighborhood for years, there were less problems in the WG Homes until Varrio 8th Street became active in the late 1980s.
In addition to his wife Elizabeth, Palacios leaves behind three sons.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (323) 526-3111 or the anonymous tip line at (323) 526-3817.
Mr. Alonso can be contacted by email by viewing his extended contact information.
