The following comments were made by Santa Monica Police Chief Tim Jackman at a press conference February 8 announcing the arrests of eight gang members allegedly responsible for two murders and a string of shootings.

This morning with the assistance of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and with the advice of the District Attorneys office, we served several search and arrest warrants at residences in the Los Angeles communities of West Los Angeles and Venice. As a result of these warrants, as well as earlier investigative actions, we have arrested/charged two juveniles and six adults for murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other serious crimes.

For the last two years, our community here in Santa Monica has suffered through numerous gang-related shootings, two of which resulted in murder. Some of these incidents include an attempted murder in which the suspects fired several gunshots at a group of men standing on a sidewalk directly across the street from an elementary school where children were playing on the school yard.

In another shooting, a couple was seated in their vehicle when the same suspects from the elementary school shooting drove by and fired several gunshots at them and fled.

These same suspects are also responsible for a drive-by shooting in which an innocent young woman was shot in the leg as she walked into her apartment complex.

In yet still another incident, the same suspects approached a group of young teenagers and fired several gunshots, killing Eddie Lopez. Eddie was 15 years old and an avid athlete. He played on our local High School’s football and baseball teams. Eddie was well liked by all and yet at the prime of his life, and while doing nothing wrong, he was gunned down.

And most recently -- just two days after Christmas -- another young man, Miguel Martin, was gunned down as he walked with his friends on the sidewalk in front of one of our parks -- again, by the same suspects.

These and other incidents have been attributed to a local gang from West Los Angeles.

Detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department, including those standing behind me today, have been working diligently to solve these acts of gang violence.

In this endeavor, the Santa Monica Police Department has been working in collaboration with patrol officers and detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s West LA and Pacific Divisions, as well as with attorneys from the Los Angeles District Attorneys Specialized Prosecution Unit which encompasses the Hardcore Gang Division. We have also been assisted by several other agencies in the county that are a part of the inter-agency gang task force.

As a result of this regional interagency collaboration, we were able to identify a conspiracy involving the West LA gang and the suspects involved in these crimes.

The murders and shootings engaged in by the suspects in this case are acts of depravity that have terrorized parts of our community. The pain and heartache suffered over the last two years has been almost unfathomable. People throughout Santa Monica have felt unsafe and have had their lives directly affected by these shootings.

On the other hand, the strength and courage of many in the community has been incredible. I would like to introduce to you Mrs. Arminta Lopez, the mother of Eddie, who was gunned down last February. I would also like to introduce you to Lucio Martin, the father of Miguel Martin. Their strength throughout their respective ordeals has been amazing. Both Mrs. Lopez and Mr. Martin have agreed to speak with members of the media immediately following the press conference.