A Call for Action in a Time of Grief

By Olin Ericksen and Joyce Tse

March 8 -- A day after two young men were shot to death in Sunset Park, community leaders are trying to heal the wounds and bring a halt to a potential cycle of violence.

Jonathan Nicolas Hernandez, 19, of Ocean Park, and Hector Bonilla, 25, of the Pico Neighborhood, were killed Saturday night around 11 p.m., shortly after a fight broke out at a private party inside the Moose Lodge at 1600 Ocean Park Boulevard.

Police have not identified any suspects and no arrests have been made.

Civic leaders Monday called for the community to come together at a time of grieving and take action to help prevent further violence.

"Reflection and healing are the most important thing right now," said Council member Richard Bloom. "It's extremely important that the community remain calm and reflective. The families need peace in their lives to get through this.

"We have seen cycles before where retribution is sought," Bloom said. "That would be the worst scenario here. The violence has to stop."

At SAMOHI, where Hernandez had been a student, "pretty extensive counseling services" were being offered "to help both families in their time of need," said Schools Superintendent Dr. John Deasy.

"We've become aware that several former and current SAMOHI students were at the party," Deasy said. "We're also aware that some may have witnessed (the killings), so that's the type of grief counseling that we need to provide.

"It's horrifying, a double homicide like this," Deasy said. "It's murder. There's no other way to say it. Kids who witness violence, that affects them in their day-to-day lives. We have to keep that in mind."

Saturday's shootings, which also left a third victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg that is not life threatening, comes one week after the City embarked on a series of workshops to tackle gang violence. A second workshop is scheduled for next Saturday.

"This tragedy underscores and highlights what we've been working on in an awful way," Bloom said. "We will finish this process and better address this issue in the coming weeks and months."

State Senator Sheila Kuehl, who along with the City is sponsoring the workshops, called for swift community action.

"My heart goes out to the families of the young men who were killed on Saturday night," Kuehl said in a statement. "This very sad incident confirms the pressing need for a community response to reduce gang violence.

"I remain committed to the residents of Santa Monica, to help develop a community action plan that can be implemented in the very near future," Kuehl said.

Kuehl called for a "a plan that can provide counseling and mentoring, training and jobs, and other programs for our young people.

"We, and by that I mean the business community, the schools, law enforcement, and the residents of Santa Monica, must act now to ensure that we do not lose another young person to gang violence," Kuehl said.

In addition to providing grief counseling, the district must help find ways to come up with long-term strategies for reducing gang violence, Deasy said.

"Of course it is a tragedy, that goes without saying," he said. "The question now becomes, 'What can we do at the schools to support a long-term solution?'"

The district, Deasy said, may need a curriculum "that teaches tolerance and non-violence and helps people understand ethnic and historical issues."

In addition, Deasy said, the community must provide job training and education, as well as economic opportunities for young adults. Among the trades that can be taught are clerical, secretarial and custodial skills, as well as training in technology and in food services.

Santa Monica also needs to provide services and clubs that can counteract the allure of gangs.

"It's about community service and clubs," Deasy said. "Is there a club that you belong to that will keep you out of gangs? No. But there should be a comprehensive solution of many different activities and clubs to keep our youths connected."

Inside the Pico Youth and Family Center Monday afternoon more than a dozen teens and young adults were grappling with a combination of anger, suspicion and sadness as they waited for counselors from Saint John's Medical Center to arrive.

Some were curious why three squad cars were parked across the street, the officers stopping and questioning those headed for the center.

"I don't know if it's helping or making the problem worse," one worker at the center said.

Suspicion was also aroused by the arrival of two firefighters for an unexpected inspection of the center.

Police said the patrols were stationed near the Pico Youth and Family Center at the center's request.

"Staff expressed concern about their clients' safety and added patrols were included as a precaution," said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the Police Department spokesman.

The center's executive director, Oscar de la Torre, said he spent most of the day counseling grieving families and working to stop any retribution for the killings.

"They were unarmed at the party," de la Torre said. "These guys were executed. If anybody had any idea there was going to be trouble they would have gone in armed.

"To me, it was God speaking," de la Torre said. "It's just awkward, the timing. From the cafeteria where the community meeting was, you could see the Moose Lodge.

"The next step is to use the power and resources to affect change. The next step is to put the money where the City's mouth is to end the violence."