LOS ANGELES -- Newly discovered online photographs are stirring controversy in the murder of local high school football star, Jamiel Shaw, Jr.
The pictures, posted on MySpace in memory of the slain teen, show Shaw making hand gestures which many say appear to be gang signs.
Several online bloggers, including civil rights activist Najee Ali, believe Shaw's murder was not race-related and was due to retaliation by a rival gang.
Police have continually maintained the slaying was a result of gang violence.
Shaw's parents say the teen was not affiliated with any gangs, and that the hand gestures were innocent. They say they still believe their son was killed because of the color of his skin.
"What I saw... he had a peace sign", Jamiel Shaw, Sr. said. "...You know, Mork and Mindy, the Star Trek (sign). That's what that was", Shaw's father said about one of the hand gestures in question.
Shaw was gunned down on March 2nd by a reputed gang member who was in the country illegally, according to investigators.
Authorities believe Shaw's alleged killer, Pedro Espinoza, who was
released from county jail the day before the slaying, was smuggled into the
country when he was 4 years old. The 18th Street gang member has pleaded not
guilty in the murder.
Investigators say Shaw was asked "where are you from?" before he was shot, which is a precursor to a gang event.
"They're not asking somebody, 'what race are you?', they're asking somebody 'what gang are you from?'... that's what 'where are you from?' means", LAPD Chief of Detectives Charlie Beck said.
Meanwhile, Ali has called on MySpace to remove profiles that "promote and glorify gang violence".
"Our coalition wants MySpace to ban all promotions of gang violence and gang culture by users and is asking for community members nationwide to report objectionable comments and pictures that promote gangs", Ali said.
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LOS ANGELES -- Newly discovered