Homicide Report > Arraignment: Young men disrupt courtroom during appearance of accused killer of Carlos Rodriguez, 17
Arraignment: Young men disrupt courtroom during appearance of accused killer of Carlos Rodriguez, 17
Alfredo Escobedo, a 21-year-old Latino, was arraigned Tuesday in Downey Municipal Court on charges of murder and attempted murder in the death of Carlos Rodriguez, a 17-year-old Latino, who was shot and killed Saturday. Feb. 22 while driving in South Gate.
As attorneys prepared for their upcoming cases before Commissioner Burt Barnett, a man who appeared to be in his late teens to early twenties, also Latino, began to laugh in the gallery.
The bailiff told the young man to stop. Instead, he laughed again. At that point the bailiff asked him to leave and he stood up, asking, “Why do I have to leave?”
The bailiff told him he had been asked to stop laughing and needed to leave the courtroom. The young man then exited the court.
Several minutes later, he returned and sat back down with a group of young men. The bailiff saw him and again told him to leave, crossing the bar separating the observers from officers of the court to escort him into the hallway.
About 11:15 a.m., Escobedo was brought to the court room handcuffed and wearing blue jail attire. Escobedo sat in a chair next to the defense desk and occasionally peered over his shoulder to view the audience in the gallery. The defense attorney asked the commissioner to set the next hearing for a date in April and the commissioner agreed.
As Escobedo was escorted back to the court holding cell, two young men sitting in the corner of the gallery began to throw what appeared to be gang signs. Another bailiff confronted the two and asked them to leave. The majority of the attendees in the gallery left the courtroom with them.
Authorities allege that Escobedo was the gunman who began firing at Rodriguez and three other men from a car that pulled up alongside them shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 at California Avenue and Duane Way in South Gate.
Det. Phil Guzman of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau previously told The Times that Rodriguez, who was driving when he was shot, crashed his car. At that point, one of his passengers took over the car and drove Rodriguez to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood where he died that afternoon. A passenger in Rodriguez’s car was wounded in the shooting.
South Gate police arrested Escobedo on Feb. 24 in connection with the attack. Prosecutors charged him with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of assault with a firearm.
— Los Angeles Times Metro staff
38 reader comments
I wonder if it was Escobars associates that were the ones who disrupted the hearing.
March 24, 2010 at 8:18 p.m.
This seems like a win-win situation for the community - one gang member dead and one in prison. That's two that can't harm an innocent person.
March 25, 2010 at 10:01 a.m.
oh god!its people like you who (nogangs)and gang members that make this world as sick as it is.......
March 25, 2010 at 11:49 a.m.
I am sorry but my cousin was a gang member and he was trying to change his life.....So FYI they have loved ones too. Its sad because alot of them dont choose the gang its a part of where they grew up and acceptance.....
RIP Ryan O'Connell aka Youngster!
March 25, 2010 at 1:03 p.m.
Richard, why is it bad? Anyone who creates a disturbance like this in a courtroom is someone who is going to cause trouble in society.
We have one gangster being tried for murder and hopefully will be removed from society. And we had a chance to throw another gangster into jail on contempt charges.
March 25, 2010 at 1:17 p.m.
looks like the police had future suspects in the court room. expect more killings.
March 25, 2010 at 1:51 p.m.
All of Southern California needs a SERIOUS crackdown on gangs.
THEN property values will rise.
March 25, 2010 at 3:53 p.m.
it's these actions and ones like it that are part of the whole gang culture thats why i've moved to hawaii theres crime n gangs but not like the so called city of angeles don't get me wrong i love n miss l a
March 25, 2010 at 4:45 p.m.
Gangbangers are pitiful. They have no remorse regarding the people they mame or kill.Every gangbanger should be placed on a plane and shipped over to Iraq to really get a sense of war. I would bet upon their return if they returned they would have a change of heart.
March 25, 2010 at 5 p.m.
I really hope and pray that Mr. Escobedo spend the rest of his natural life in prison the worthless coward, It's so sad that these worthless cowards fight, and kill for a community aka HOOD!! that they don't even own, and how many of their Hood buddies will visit them in prison for years to come, absolutly none of them, because the truth is they will be forgotten about just like they would if they were killed fighting for a hood that don't even belong to them. Good Riddens Mr Escobedo hope you enjoy your stay in the concrete jungle your new home called Prison.
March 25, 2010 at 7:20 p.m.
All of you people should be ashame of yourselves, don't you have any humanity! this young man have a family that loves him, and that is always going to miss him. Have some repect for the victims of crime, you are not God, to judge any-one, gang member or not who made you judge over humanity. Only Jesus Died for us and only he has the right to punish and judge us. To the Family of the Victim my heart goes out to you, may the Lord Jesus Christ grants you justice and peace.
March 25, 2010 at 9:06 p.m.
All Gang members are scum!!! ALL OF THEM!!
March 25, 2010 at 10:50 p.m.
Gangbangers you guy's are really uneducated fools,what do you think will happen when your arrested and go to prison,someone will protect you,fools no one cares about you as soon as your in prison,some one else is taking care of your women, and your kids are calling someone else daddy,and visits will be for other inmates,your never to be heard of, or though of again.haha what a joke you are.
March 26, 2010 at 7:47 a.m.
In response to Andrea, gangs have nothing to do with where you grew up or wanted to be accepted. Me and my brothers grew up right in the middle of a big gang in Los Angeles and not once did we ever think of joining to get accepted or nothing. You know what we chose, school and sports and that took up a lot of our day to day activities. That is just a damn excuse, be man enough to do your own thing. You dont need 100 guys behind you to be a man.
March 26, 2010 at 8:33 a.m.
I lost my best friend, my teammate on my soccer team, because some stupid 20 year old kid decided to take his life in front of me... He left 2 little girls without a father... He left a family destroyed... I testified, put my family and my life at risk pointed my finger at the cowards who did it. Now they have 50 years each of them to think about all the damage they caused. If we all fight these criminals and denounce them we will be have a better comunity for our families. Compassionate heart: you have never been hit by tragedy like this...dont talk about respect for these guys if you dont know.
March 26, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.
Compassionate heart, assuming the defendant is found guilty, then no sympathy or compassion is to be shown to him or his family. I would love to see the legal and criminal costs now associated with Mr. Escobar to be sent to his family and they forced to pay back to the county and state.
As a community, we have a god given right to judge him. Its enshrined in our constitution that only "we the people" can find him guilty.
And I can guarentee you one thing. When he meets his maker, god is going to point him to the down elevator to meet his fate. Heaven is not to be contaminated with worthless rats who kill, maim and destroy people and society.
March 26, 2010 at 10:14 a.m.
All known gang members should be sentenced to 10 years hard labor breaking rocks in the desert, no questions asked, just being a part of a gang is enough to draw that sentence. In 10 years time we'll see how many gang members are left. None I bet. 10 years hard labor is a good deterrent. 10 years easy time in prison with their gang buddies is not and does not serve the public well.
March 26, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
We need to get a better justice system. I bet you if the law would be eye for an eye there would be less crime. Most of these criminals who go to prison kill, learn how to be more evil and when they come out (the ones that do) they kill again. Stop waisting our tax payers money.
March 26, 2010 at 4:24 p.m.
I say turn the Coliseum into a real coliseum and let them serve their sentences fighting to the death....then you will see how tough these wimps really are...they are only tough when they are in a group and shooting at un-armed people....most ive run across are cowards when you catch them alone with no audience...
March 27, 2010 at 1:18 p.m.
Show some sympathy for the gang members, they also have loser family members who make excuses for their low life criminal behavoir.
March 28, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
NONE OF YOU LAMES
WILL DARE TO TELL A GANGMEMBER
SUMTHING IN THEIR FACE...ALL OF YOU ARE LITTLE B1TCHES
March 28, 2010 at 10:09 p.m.
death to bangers, who cares who loves them, they are killers and will be killed
March 29, 2010 at 10:53 a.m.
'Compassionate Heart' you really, really must be kidding if you think for one minute we should have compassion for a man that could just walk up to anyone and blow their head off, then go about life like that was okay and could care less who you are. Having capassion for the victim is caring that justice is served on their behalf and their families behalf. And, for you to say "Shame On Us" as you said is a slap in the victims face, when we're caring for the victim, and not for the defendent that would do such a thing to another human-being, and it seems maybe you've never had a loved one taken so innocently by these evil gang members, who also cared so much about these guys by bringing them to church , and inviting them to church to show them God is love, so for you to care that we respect the feelings of some worthless evil human-being is a slap to my face, and all the other families who suffers for what these evil gangs do, so SHAME ON YOU, TOO!!!, 'UN-Compassionate Heart'
March 29, 2010 at 10:56 a.m.
Gangs are the byproduct of an ignorant, greedy, and selfish society. Very sad...
March 29, 2010 at 12:01 p.m.
Lol, how about them lames from Michigan who were planning on killing a police officer and then crash the funeral and kill more? Typical American, locked them all up, save them citizens lifes.
March 29, 2010 at 3:18 p.m.
Your Daddy......I would be more than happy to share my feelings with a "gang member" to his face, face to face me and him one on one mano y mano. They however do not roll like that, last time I checked driving by and shooting people in the back certainly cant be a measuring stick of manhood or how "tough" somebody is. I have served in this countries military for almost a decade now, and have seen and done some bad stuff. I would love it if the govt. would drop me and some of my old "devil dogs" in the hood I think we would make it out just fine.
March 29, 2010 at 3:39 p.m.
Your daddy,
If gang members are so tough, why do they need guns, or a whole group, to take on one citizen? I'll tell you why; because they're all just punks who wind up bitches inside unless they're in a set.
March 29, 2010 at 8:45 p.m.
— CARLOS
March 26, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.
Carlos, you are a man. Who knows how many young people those 2 would have ruined and how many others they would have killed or maimed if they stayed out on the streets. We'll never know who they are, but you've saved them.
March 30, 2010 at 4:31 a.m.
Hey 'Your Daddy' what makes all low-life gangbangers so much of a coward is they could never fight with their fist they need a weapon to show their so bad, but I could truly bet if most if not all were out of their hood by their selves they could never stand up to anyone without a weapon on them, and be as bad as they are when their with their homeboys, because you know the playing field would be level, and they would get their butts whipped like an old thief in the night. Just tell'n it like it is
March 30, 2010 at 6:03 a.m.
all gang members are seriously lame and disgusting people trying to be cool they do not realize they just look rediculous
March 30, 2010 at 10:49 a.m.
you think that you have to be in a gang to be a killa?or with group of friends to be labled" the group" a gang?we are surrounded by killas,and groups of freinds,all the time,whats the phobia?the dress code?because someone likes a particular football team,an has a jersy on?if you have 5 45year old raider fans together,is that a gang?if you say no,you are dead wrong,because a raider fan will kill ya...
March 30, 2010 at 2:40 p.m.
Gang members are a products of stupid parents! Please use birth control, you will be doing society a huge favor.
March 30, 2010 at 4:42 p.m.
Just because they are gang members you think that they are "uneducated fools"? That's not completely true. Some of them fall into it because of where they are from. Some are just young and stupid. I they do they crime yeah they should pay the price and do the time, but once they are out they should be given a second chance. Some of them may learn from it and what a better life.
Dec. 19, 2010 at 5:43 p.m.
mswar said it the best. i work with these guys from inside the walls all day. they are children who have usually lived VERY traumatic lives. it is our society's fault that we have allowed this to happen to these children. and it is our society's fault that we have failed to teach these children acceptable behaviors and accountability.
Dec. 19, 2010 at 11:07 p.m.
to none.
Life is about choices. Don't blame society for your mistakes. I came from a broken home, alcoholic parents, I CHOSE to break the cycle. Live a decent life and give back to my community instead of taking away. When you "crap" in your own back yard, sooner or later you're going to step in it and the consequences will be very dear. Prison or death, take your pick. Do you steal because you're poor? Then ask yourself, why you are poor? What can you do to change that. Usually means an education. Education is power. Education means meaningful work. The problem is, YOU don't want to work. So you take from others. You have made your choice. How much WORK does it take to live the way you live. Think about it. Oh and if you like to play with guns join the military, but be warned, screw up there, military justice is a lot harsher than any prison sentance you'd get from an LA judge.
Dec. 21, 2010 at 9:04 a.m.
For all of you who have posted to have a heart about a loved gangmember killed because how their families feel. I bet you are the ones who check your front door twice to make sure it's locked and hold on to your purse as you pass one by. Be realistic about life and about people who live wrong. Make no mistake they will hurt you, rob you and kill you. I feel firmly that what comes around goes around. It' time for people to change to own up to their sins because they are responsible for them, if not now they will be when it's too late and their life is gone. Who will they pray to when they no longer have ownership of their souls
Dec. 21, 2010 at 2:07 p.m.
Where is the proof!! That mr.escobedo did this???????
I thought U.S was justice if you have no kind of proof except some morans that arein the courtroom throwing gang signs that are the testifiers -__- know wh5 would you believe people like that.if they aren't even sure who it was.what I they just pointed at the person they just hate the most t fuk em over they don't have a clur who it was so they just point fingers that's not right having someone locked up for something they dint do.or the police doesn't even have proof of.
April 22, 2011 at 12:12 p.m.
Where you at the court hearing idiot there was evidence should know your facts "justice"and no Carlos wasn't from any gang
March 4, 2013 at 2:47 a.m.
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