Miguel Machuca, 15

Heres the Times news story on this horrific crime.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/15-year-old-in-lincoln-heights-fatally-shot-during-theft-of-his-bicycle-gunfire-injures-girl-standing-nearby.html

He was murdered by gangsters. Make no mistake about it. Sociopaths. Psychopaths. Come on all you gang enablers who think your lifestyle is benevolent. Tell me about the "misunderstood" side of the butchers who murdered him.

And people wonder why I am so down on and show no pity for the families who grieve the loss of their gangster relatives.

This is why the community must rally around the police and criminal justice system to aggressively go after the gangs, their enablers and their families who tacitly support them. Put them on the run so law abiding people don't have to fear the predators who will kill for no reason.

He was a gang member from HAZARD.
WHY DON'T THEY MENTION THE GUN HE WAS IN POSSESION OF?

-syscom3:
Before you go off running at the mouth it helps to know what you're talking about.
This was NO innocent kid. He was a gang member himself from a local gang known as HAZARD. They have NOT mentioned the gun this "INNOCENT" kid was in possesion of, why is that?
He was caught doing the exact thing would have done had he ran into someone, only someone beat him to the punch.
FYI: Gangs are NOT going ANYWHERE, you better get used to it or move out of LA if you're scared.

— FYI, because it is politically incorrect to do so. It might deflect sympathy from the victim and their family.

I cant wait for the posts that will come, that mentions the following: "only god can judge", "good kid who made bad choices", "no one is perfect and without sin", "we will always remember you".

Leave? Hell no, one day the punks that are the ones who are truly scared will realize how stupid they are for being in gangs in the first place

la weekly has a more accurate description of the shooting. and according to the comments, he started shooting first, hitting an innocent 11 yr old girl in the process, before the people he was shooting at gunned him down. another day in l.a. smh

— FYI, there was a reader comment in the news story about it being gang related, and he provided a few details.

I don't need to move out of LA, because I don't live there in the first place. Fortunately I live nearby. And the community supports the police and we keep the local gangsters under control.

syscom3

only god can judge ... good kid who made bad choices ...no one is perfect and without sin ...we will always remember you.... LOL!!! you should have your own column for L.A. Times, cant deny some of your comments as bad as they are are true.

Please post link to the LA Weekly story. Crimes like these happen so frequently that most people just don't care. It's really a sad thing to see.

You people in La are something else,these gangbangers feed off of there hoods,they turn your family's into drug voombies in order to get money, there not misquided,or made a wrong choice, there COWARDS, who carry guns because there to scared to confront people that will beat them down, the word Gangmember means COWARD.

Syscom3, it is most likely family members post such comments because they are grieving. These are phrases and/or words that are conforting to themselves. I don't sympathize for the gang members that get killed, but I do for the families. If a mother, father, brother or sister had the power to remove their loved one from the gang lifestyle they will do so in a heart beat. If you had a child and he was to join a gang and you completely lost control over him and he gets killed you will still grieve for em.

Why is it that some people have not accepted the fact that police is the biggest part of the problem? "Rally around police and criminal justice system..." get out there and observe the reality of things instead of blocking it with skewed perceptions. Anyone will tell you, police is the biggest organized crime ring in the world. Ever heard of the "cappos" in history? Where do you think the word "cop" came from, I tell you its not from copper shirt buttons. Get out there, release the fear of dying, and then you will see the foolishness of your words. Another one bites the dust and life goes on but not for everyone, obviously!

"Why is it that some people have not accepted the fact that police is the biggest part of the problem? "Rally around police and criminal justice system..." get out there and observe the reality of things instead of blocking it with skewed perceptions.”

I have seen both worlds and I prefer my perceptions. When the community supports law enforcement, then the bad people tend to leave or shape up and not cause troubles.

“Anyone will tell you, police is the biggest organized crime ring in the world.”

It seems the only people saying that are the ones who have frequent contact with the police and the criminal justice system.

“Ever heard of the "cappos" in history? Where do you think the word "cop" came from”

Every definition of “cappo” I researched has no correlation with “cop”. Actually “cop” has its roots in an old French word “caper”.

“Get out there, release the fear of dying, and then you will see the foolishness of your words. Another one bites the dust and life goes on but not for everyone, obviously!”

For you, a violence filled world has become the norm. To a huge majority of people in this state, we want no part of it. We prefer to die of old age, not hit by stray bullets from sociopaths.

-enough, the words sound good coming out of your mouth but what are YOU doing to make a differce besides posting garbage on this site.
In the streets they say " Run up or Shut up "!

@syscom3 >For you, a violence filled world has become the norm. To a huge majority of people in this state, we want no part of it. We prefer to die of old age, not hit by stray bullets from sociopaths.<

You dont need to comment thats, the bloggers own business, you are one of the very few sociopaths on the Hr

Get a new past time besides trying to bring grieving people down

cops, popo, onetime, bluboyz - the la pd and sheriffs department are one of the biggest gangs in L.A. they just wear a badge, I agree with Boyle Heights Citizen,

hmm why doesnt the lapd and sheriffs dept have cameras on during any interaction with citizens? oh yeah murder on tape is not a good look... i bet if they had head cameras that can see what they see, there will be a lot less citizens being shot "reaching for there waist" - the technology is now available for use

— FYI, I vote, I take an active interest in my city and community, I make sure my children stay clear of bad influences, I comment on this blog, blah, blah blah.

"In the streets they say " Run up or Shut up "!"

In a civilized society, they say "when your a grown man, put childish acts behind you"." Its also said that knowledge is power, and the truth shall set you free. I'd much rather do that than "run on the streets". Bad things happen on the streets (except my community which is so boring, nothing really happens).

Did you happen to notice the definition of the word capo or kapo? Obviously not. OtherWISE you would see what the correlation is. I'll give it you -–noun
a Nazi concentration camp prisoner who was given privileges in return for supervising prisoner work gangs: often a common criminal and frequently brutal to fellow inmates. Doesn't that sound familiar. What you are saying is that you trust police to carry out your dirty business. Maybe the rest of us don't want to be a mindless droid jumping when they say jump. We don't want to be like cows led into the slaughter.

not a comment but a statement , let my son rest in peace, why dont you get a freaken life and stay out of lives that you have no clue of you loser , your probally the jerk that did this to my son,what after you took his bike it wasn't enough that you even took his shoes, so who's the coward now , you sisi lala

Nobody knows what these kids go through at home or in life, whether he was from gang or not he was still a child and now he is gone. We as parents try to control our kids but because we are at work or whatever, we loose our children to this kind of BS. Nobody can judge and who ever is free of sin can toss the first stone. And to whom ever said he had a gun then you need to step up and give your statements for the record. to the family may God bless u.

@ boyle heights citizen.. to shay i will try my hardest to get a life and stop posting comments about something i "hate so much" it never made sense right? why do i keep coming on here down talking the familys maybe i should try to reach out to the "sociopaths" before they make there bad choices .... only god can judge

— Boyle Heights Citizen ...... So to you, the word you first used was “cappos”, now you’re telling me I should have known you meant to use the word “capo” or “kapo”. Are you a product of the LAUSD?
Further, it would never have struck me to think of comparing our police with degenerate scum who assisted in genocide. Just how do you equate the two? It’s obvious you (or family members) have had some serious run ins with the law and you’re angry at society and think of gang activity as just something that happens, and it means little in the scheme of things. Like I said before, for you; the abnormal has become the normal, and the rest of us have to accept abnormal conduct!

This is the difference in worlds between us – last night I went to a street fair with several thousand people (of all races) in attendance. The police were friendly, people chatted with them and they made sure there were no problems with anyone. And you know what; not one gangster was to be seen, and there were no problems at all. Now tell me that would happen in these killing field neighborhoods that make up the HR.

"@ boyle heights citizen.. to shay i will try my hardest to get a life and stop posting comments about something i "hate so much" it never made sense right? why do i keep coming on here down talking the familys maybe i should try to reach out to the "sociopaths" before they make there bad choices .... only god can judge
— syscom3
Sept. 3, 2010 at 8:27 p.m. "

IMPOSTER!!!! LOL ...... I don't think I have ever used grammar and spelling like that.

Mrs Garvey, look at the email for that post. I guarantee its not the one I have been using for the past three years.

"Nobody can judge and who ever is free of sin can toss the first stone. "

Thanks to — la woman to be the first one for providing full confirmation that the deceased was a gangster.

— GRACE PEREZ .... just what happened in your sons life that made him into a gangster at age 15? I'd like to say I am sorry about your loss, but all I can think about is that little girl who was shot. I simply cannot empathize with you. I just keep wondering what horrific and vile acts your sons gang has committed over the years.

Shouldn't you say some nasty things about them? They're the ones who got your son murdered.

I will say that the sociopaths who took his shoes was about as low as you can get. But what do you expect barbarians to do? Act civilized.

this gang bang crap has to stop its all lies and deception, kill each other out here and bof's in the penn its all b.s., lil homies you guys have to see the BIG picture.We continue to kill each other, our own race for nothing, we all end up in the same place 6 feet deep or in the penn chillin together like idiots. I feel bad for this kid and the ones who did it because now both of their lives are ruined FOREVER

It seems as though the psychology books have served you well SYSCOM3. I have had run ins with the law. You see, when the rest of us go out in public, we are subjected to random searches, seizures, incarceration,racial profiling, brutal and unjustified beat-downs. You say let's all allow the filthy degenerate scum to go about policing the neighborhoods they know little to nothing about. Don't you have a clue, where you born yesterday? You speak of the evil of the world, yet you can't recognize one of the biggest which is the police. Let's see a time when they give you your share of B.S. and then speak praises to the pigs who will make your life miserable. It is foolish to speak of things you know nothing about. When you finally experience what it's like to live on the other side of the fence, where the grass isn't green, and where the dirt asks for seed to give life then you will understand. If you can't grasp what I am saying, then indeed you should go back to studying your precious basic general psychology, but I guarantee one thing. You won't learn the reality of not being part of a so- called higher society. As a matter of fact, I can and will compare our police as the degenerate scum who assisted in the murder of innocent jews during the second world war. They are people just like you and me that choose to pursue a position of higher authority. That does not mean that the evil of their hearts was cleansed. They went through a nine month process that granted them immunity from law. Yet, they are the ones who use the illegitimate power to abuse the people they long to serve. Now, lets speak of "gang activity". We all know what a gang is. We all know what activity is. If the whole outline of police departments such as the L.A.P.D. doesn't give you a clear definition of both terms, then maybe you should consider enrolling yourself back into school, preferably from bottom to top, K-12 and at an LAUSD school. Then, maybe, you will have a base for some sort of educational backround because what comes from your mind is force-fed and hard to swallow.

Where is this fairy-tale land of yours syscom3? Do you know the meaning of the phrase "the hand is quicker than the eye"? What you saw was an illusion. Sorry to pop your bubble but you've got lots to learn.

Syscome

Did I just read that you said on Sept 3 that you were going to get a life and stop writing about the things you hate and stop down talking the families of the victims, yet you are back on hr report on the 4th with your ramblings. You are still on the sly downing people who dont live in your area. There are bad people everywhere, even in your area. I pray to God that you dont run into one of them.

-Grace Perez, DENIAL is nothing nice.
The FACT is your son if in fact that is the case was "Silent from Hazard" Now had you really been concerned that some thing such as this was inevitable you should have kept him out of the gang life style... ENOUGH SAID,PEACE!

Most sensible people realize that there is plenty of blame to go around for the current state of affairs. However, ONLY a fool would believe things are getting worse. syscom 3: look around, read some statistics - murder rates continue to drop across the country - especially in LA.

Also, syscom3, you need to face some facts; the LAPD has a bad rap because, well, it has a history of brutality, corruption and incompetence. If you don't believe that, then you need to go read some old LA Times newspapers.

The thing is, people in these communities are beginning to trust police a lot more - it just takes time. Remember that it's only been less than a decade since the LAPD began to resemble a genuine police organization dedicated to making all people safer - not a corrupt free-for-all with members offering contract killings to rap music industry executives, among other things.

As far as this murder, it seems everyone agrees that this kid was playing with fire and got burnt. But syscom3, I really don't see how you help anything by coming on these posts all the time and running your mouth with all your ex post facto, self-righteous nonsense.

Do you really care about these communities? Then volunteer at a library in one of their neighborhoods or something. Otherwise, grow up - no sensible Angelino is interested in the infantile assessments of someone with nothing better to do than spout off at the mouth on a homicide blog.

HEY GRACE ITS ME LUZ AKA E.T. IM REALLY SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED to uR son grace iM really reallyyyy sorry but u gots to be strong for ur other kids and so what, what these people say people always going to talk regardless if he was a good kid or not but i know he was a good kid i remember him and im really sorry for ur lost grace :0( i just lost my brother too on march and im truly sorry for ur lOSt gracie stay up always and i hope i get of hold oF u soon to taLK TO U.TELL UR KIDS IM SO SORRY FOR THERE lil brothers lost ok and i hope u remember me i was ur neighbor years ago.god bless ur familia gracie be strong ok iM sorry grace.may miguel machuca rip......ALSO RIP MY CARNAL JOSE CASTILLO AKA LTOKER TRULY BEING MISSED :..0( STOP THE VIOLENCE PEOPLE DAMN

this is los angeles man we all go same way if we in a gang man sh1t its getting worse if u wanna live longer stay in school get a job less u will kill some one then u will get killed

— Sheba, sorry to disappoint you, but that post was done by an impostor.

— LUZ .... are you telling us you know the deceased as well as that other murdered gangster, Jose Castillo? Simply amazing. Most people will go through their whole live without knowing a single murdered person, yet you know two!

— Boyle Heights Citizen ..... I was at that illusionary street fair again last night. I swear that there were thousands of people there and they were all being harassed and shaken down by the police.
Ahhh, the benefits of living in an area where the gangs are not wanted nor supported.

So did the kid have a gun too? I lost my frined and he was 15 too. Seems the younger kids blast for simply seeing an enemy like it's a game of gta. Seriously, i know people who do dirt and simply walk around like nothing. Unfortunately i live near that park and i keep myself legally well armed cause this area is crawling with gangs every two blocks. Gotta be on your toes around here, no kids die over banging. Gotta remember how to box, talk smack and keep it moving. Murders only hurt the families, the killer and the killers family... cause the victim is feeling no more pain. My condolences...

Realist - Thank you.

People need to stop judging and disrespecting homicide victims and their families. Regardless of the circumstances, this was a child, and his family, friends and the community are grieving his loss, which was violent, sudden, senseless and too soon.

Instead of complaining, make a positive contribution to your community by being a positive role model, mentoring the youth, volunteering, etc. Help those who are less fortunate than you to improve their lives and make our communities healthier and safer.

Rest in peace, Miguel. My thoughts are with your family.

Miguel Machuca is a 15yr old thug, Who goes my the moniker name "Silent". He got what he deserved. Silent choose the gangster life style. He enjoyed vandalizing and causing mayhem in the
Romona Gardens Housing Projects, stealing cars, breaking into homes and businesses, spraying graffiti all over the the city and bulling and intimidating other law biding innocent boys and girls just merely going to school and trying to get an education.
"Oops.. too... bad" he finally ran into his match. Silent pulled out his pea-shooter and didn't know how to aim and missed. The other thugs (suspects) got the best out of silent and shot him dead. Silent is now truly "SILENT". We
the good community Neighborhood Watch, can now retake our neighborhood. Nobody here is shedding any tears, we are in jubilee our children don't have to fear no more. Miguel Machuca's Parents are now grieving shedding endless tears and saying my poor little son he was a good boy who had scholastic achievements. he wanted to become a police officer, a doctor, a teacher and even a professional football player. I blame his parents too because they didn't teach silent any morals or the habits with respect to right or wrong conduct.
The true innocent victim of all this was the 11yr. old girl who got shot. My hart goes to her parents and wish the little girl full speedy recovery...
We must tell our children to say no to drugs and gangs at a early age.

— K.P., the failure to judge criminal behavior and the gang lifestyle is tacitly giving approval to both.

You're a gang enabler if you don't condemn it. Stop thinking of the deceased as being a "child" because he wasn't it. He was a 15 year old who knew what he was doing. The fact he was armed meant he knew that weapons are for killing.

And just what "community" is mourning his loss? His fellow gangsters? The post by Neighborhood Watch seems to indicate that the community is a little happier today.

@Realist, K.P., COMPTON GUY, N.W.

We all know what must be done to end the murders in our communities. Unfortunately, even the best of people may meet a violent death. Whatever drove the victim down this path was something only he knew. There are other youngsters on the same path. You guys are right we need to be a positive example for our youth.

@Grace Perez

Lady, in these times, the loss of your son engulfs your heart. I hope that God may ease your suffering and grant you the strength to get you through. Nothing in this life can replace your son. A mother's love is unparalleled, no matter what a son may do, a mothers love transcends through space and time. I hope that Miguel's brothers or sisters may also be guided into the path of goodness. A prayer for you and your family that Miguel's soul may rest in peace, strength for you and yours, and peace for your community too.

I agree with the neighborhood watch....
I'm not shedding any tears neither,
that kid got killed during a commission of an attempted murder he got the short
end of the stick and suffered the
consequences.

I'm happy that the the Romona Gardens
community is able to take back their
their neighborhood. :)

I just can't believe that a 15 year old punk could get away with pushing around whom ever he wanted and he was that a 15 year old punk that no body could stand up to him, why? I mean that these so called RAMONA GARDENS are now at peace, Why no one ever complaint about him? He was only 15. I'm sure he did have a mind of a young person. Now his parents are sad and angry, well what did they expect? Were they blind and not really seee what was going on? He pushed hard but some one pushed back harder, now why cold that pushed have not been done with a GUN, I mean what if some one had talked to the parents and told THEM of what ever Miguel was doing wrong !!! If one or both parents knew of his behavior and did nothing to stop it then I say "what did you expect?" It is wrong to say it but, what goes around comes around. Still I do know a few parents that do not care so long their kid is winnning! ( or in some cases is doing the killing ). That is sick if you ask me. My point is don't act the victim if you are not a true one. It is wrong to be happy when some one dies.

Shutt upp neighbor hood watchh myy brother didntt gett watt he deserved alrightt he was a good brother to mee.!! Were the one shedding tears youuu aintt soo shutt yup alreadyy.!! Ndd whyy blame myy mom to if she taughtt hymm real well youu dontt even knoee soo whyy openn youurr bigg mouthh.?!?! Ii bett youu Wernt evenn ther whenn all thys happen youurr justt beinn a chismosa ndd telling rumors.!!

-Natalie, that hurt my eye's just trying to read your comment. But thanks for sharing.

HEY NATALIE LOOK AT U, CANT BELIEVE U COULD SPELL ALREADY DAMN tiMe flies so fast i remember u when u where a lil girl haa lol look natalie iM sorry for what happened to ur brother same here i lost my brother jose ltoker so im sorry tell ur mommie that luz said soory for her lost damn u guys be strong tell andrew,adam,mathew and all them i said sorry o k well take care out there aND ignore this people is just gettiNG u guys mad son nomas viejas chismosas de la vencindad del chavo del ocho mendigas brujas jajaaj RIP LTOKER N MIGUEL MACHUCA

@sysco,,,That statement confirms nothing! just simply what it says! If u have never sinned, well u lucky bastard! The point I wanted to get across was that u should not judge anyone unless u are 100% good and I do not know u but I put all my cards on the table that u are not! Dont turn this around MF! I will tell u something it does seem u are an evil person.

@sys: I am a member of the Los Angeles community, and I am grieving for everybody affected by this tragic, preventable and enormously consequential incident. Any peaceful person who cares about others should also be saddened.

You are condoning violence if you say things like "He got what he deserved." How would you feel if your fifteen year-old was shot and killed in your neighborhood (regardless of who his friends were or how much trouble he allegedly caused)? Unless you know exactly what happened, don't talk about people or things you don't know about. Have a heart and some decency and stop disrespecting his grieving family.

I cannot speak for Miguel because I didn't know him, but I do know that some kids don't receive the love, care and/or guidance that they need. I work with foster children, some of whom have been abused, neglected, and/or raised in poor neighborhoods with high crime rates, and they have been forced to fend for themselves. They are inherently good kids confronted with bad influences. My point is that some people aren't given the same chances in life and are faced with much more difficult choices than others. Don't judge them. Help them to improve the quality of their lives and prevent tragedies like this from happening again.

Peace!

mann all yu guys juss runn yur mouth...he was a good kidd but things happen and he is getting loved and missed and tears by us soo stop saying we aint tearing up for him.

KP- The victim chose to be in a gang, and knew exactly the possibilities and the consequences of being in one. Gangsters terrorize their communities and karma caught up with this young punk. Kids in the United States are given plenty of opportunities to become successful. This kid decided not to take advantage of them. How, exactly are we supposed to prevent tragedies like this from happening? He knew right from wrong. You are told repeatedly in school, from kindergarden all the way through high school, "Stay away from gangs and drugs!" Even if he dropped out of school, he surely heard it in elementary. He wanted to go down the wrong path. He is the only one who could've prevented this. Unfortunately for him, he thought being in a gang was more 'cool' and is now six feet deep.

Finally I read something positive. Thanks KP for those words I agree with you one hundred percent. People Please stop the judging and the negative comments, his family is devastated. Best wishes to all of you and please set a good example for your children. Los Angeles is a beautiful city. "To live and die in LA". peace....

— K.P., you are conveniently ignoring the reality of all this. The deceased was committing extremely serious crimes by carrying a loaded weapon with the intent to kill. By you not condemning it in the harshest of terms, you are being a gang enabler.

This is not a case of a simple theft or vandalism, but of a 15 year old committing adult type crimes.

There can be no tears shed for him because if he wasn't killed that night, he would have ended up killing others. The fact that a bystander got shot is indicative on how dangerous the deceased was.

" ... They are inherently good kids confronted with bad influences. ..."

No. There are juvenile delinquents and then there are sociopaths. One grows out of anti-social behavior. The other commits horrific crimes. In this case, he was a bad kid who made bad choices.

Before you have the gumption to ask us to mourn for the family, you had better ask the family of the deceased to apologize to the community for the crimes their son committed.

So sick of hearing these gang-enabling people saying " quit judging"..."only god can judge"...

Seriously, people....is ANYTHING worth "judging" to you? Serial killers? Murderers? All of you saying this tripe are complicit in this activity, although based on your lack of grammar and spelling skills I doubt you have any idea what that means. I'll continue to "judge" any coward gangbanger that feeds off society like the parasite they are.

""To live and die in LA". peace...."

Can you please explain this to me, LA Woman?

I realize you're quoting Tupac, but do you really think this kind of crap is cool or the norm? 15 year old kid "dying in LA"...yeah, that's really something to be proud of.

@syscom3
You are so right! fix it!
i am so tired of all of this gang crap. It is so stupid and pointless. Kids end up getting involved in the wrong crowds and screw up their lives. Not only that but they put everyone else in danger. It really pisses me off! Grow up and get jobs!

— Chris, I just wonder what the priests and clergyman are sermonizing about in the small churches that you find in the killing fields?

Its like the congregation is being indoctrinated that violent criminal behavior is OK, just as long as you accept god before your last breath of life, no matter how how much damage and destruction you cause!

And don't judge the criminals behavior, no matter how horrible and vile, as we are not the ones to judge!

I'd say that another one of problems of these neighborhoods is the failure of the religious leaders to clearly and forcefully denounce gang activity and to warn the congregants that they will not go to heaven if they commit vile and vicious crimes.

R.i.P SiLENT! Fuhk what everybody is saying, you were a good kid. .all these ppo would kno what your mom && your friends are felling if they lost somebody in their lives. . .they keep talking sh*t about you when they didn't even kno you. .they should just keep their mouths shuts!. .Let you Rest In Peace. .Your being missed Miguel. .Fuhk those punnk ass foo's who did this to youu. .(Payback is a b*tch)

Ok I agree with everyone who has said that gang violence is not necessary. I get that. You are so right most (some are just wanna be's who have done nothing) gangbangers are lost souls who nobody can help. I am sorry I agree that if you feel like you have to defend yourself and your daily living then you need to move to syscom3 neighborhood or at least live a different life.

Ok Now that I agree with most of you let me point a few points you guys are make'n:
Chris-"I realize you're quoting Tupac, but do you really think this kind of crap is cool or the norm?"

Yes it is the norm in many of these neighborhoods and until the outsider stop looking in and actually walk in to at least fix the problem it will and is continuing. Sorry but that’s reality.

Victoria-"Kids end up getting involved in the wrong crowds and screw up their lives. Not only that but they put everyone else in danger. It really pisses me off! Grow up and get jobs!"

Oh I feel your anger but they have grown up...kids have to go out everyday wondering if it is their last day on earth. They have to go out and find out how to help mom/grandma pay that bill because hey lets keep it real not everyone has it like that due to the choices they might have to make as younger adults. My point is that many of these ppl are do'n just that growing up and not living a "normal" life like many other children. U don't have to understand it just recognize it.

KP-" They are inherently good kids confronted with bad influences. My point is that some people aren't given the same chances in life and are faced with much more difficult choices than others."

Thank you for put'n out some positive words. I am sure the family appreciates it. And your right we do need more to get involved.

Ok look I read everyone’s post I am truly sorry to the family and friends who are grieve'n but Miguel might have been a "good" kid but he wasn't a great gangbanger and it was up to the family to come together then (when it was realized he was no longer the "good" kid) and teach him what living was about so he wouldn't have learned what death was about first. But what’s done is done and may he rest in peace now.

Police are just part of the problem. Instead of giving stupid traffic tickets and sitting on their asses looking at cars pass they should really be paying more attention on gang violence. We the people that work are paying the police with OUR paycecks and you see them on the streets on the motorcycle with their speedgun getting payed a good amount of money to just pull us over and take more money away from us the people who PAY them their paycheck. If the city wasnt so obsessed with trying to steal more and more money from its own people rather than try to help them out and safe more kids life miguel. Police should be going against the real criminals rather than innocent people that they pull over give a ticket to and ruin them financially even more. Miguel was a good kid even though he was in a gang. What im trying to say is maybe the government should try helping kids that live in poor neighborhoods that gang violence is evident.

— LDM ..... "but Miguel might have been a "good" kid but he wasn't a great gangbanger"

One of the more bizarre statements I've read in the HR.

Maybe you meant to say "if he wasn't a gangster, he would still be alive".

LDM, ever wonder why the people who were victimized by him didn't shed any tears? Maybe show some empathy for the many victims of the deceased and his gang?

i just hope i dont meet a violent death i live in one dangerous hood and man do u know what when i get home everyday and lock that door im so thankful i made it home this city is worse than what yall think im thinking of moving back to chicargo but hell have u seen how many homicides theres been there latley god dam ive spent time in detroit and i think thats much safer than LA and detroit was americas number 1 dangerous city in america for years.dam

Thanks to the Homicide Report's editors for successfully censoring my comment. Once again who is hiding behind the smoke and mirrors of this case???

Look every one, how about we ALL move on to the next case, we have said ( or written what ever...). Silent should be left to rest. Hmmm OROPEZA that name souds very familiar...

Miguel, a local of Lincoln Heights,member of Hazard gang, probably already knew his days were numbered...that some rival gang was after him. May he rest in peace. These kids know...They know, they know it'll be over soon. His mother probably already knew her son's fate. Maybe she's relieved that he won't be looking for trouble anymore.

Offroad King, police are not the only ones stealing from us, abiding citizens, cities are also doing it. In major intersections where bottle necks take place during rush hour the city places cameras to cite you rather than finding a solution to move traffic along. Cities where you live and pay your property taxes for local schools and many other things are now citing you for what in many cases is a mis calculation. A hefty penalty of $500.00

all of u people that talk crap are stupid because he didnt shot back u guys dont no what happen u guys just run your mouth abt what u here those r all rumors u guys are stupid for talkinq ur crap abt a kid that passed away he is now in a better place he made have made the wrong chocie but besides all that he wus a good guy n had a big heart no matter wut any one saids about him no one new him like his family did so everone that talks crap let him rest in peace aready u dont how wut we feel like we lost a son friend cousin n brother ull always b missed miguel machuca jr.ull always b in are hearts ill c u there<33

— r.i.p miguel ..... doesn't it bother you that this person who you said "he wus a good guy n had a big heart" carried a weapon with the intent to kill someone?

For those of us readers who live in a normal neighborhood that is violence free, this is not the behavior that's acceptable by anyone, regardless of age. But for you, the abnormal life that's is violent, this is normal?

This is why you are not finding many people saddened over his death. A couple of readers even said they were relieved and happy over his death because of what he did and stood for.

Care to comment on that?

u no wut u dont evn no if he had a gun or not how wuld u no u dont no crap about him he wus family u guys dont no wat happened how wyld u no if he had a gun on him were u there did u c the gun or ur just sayinq what all these dumb people are sayinq that u got to be another nosey ass guy just talkinq ur crap so iwhat if live in a good place so do we people ,ake the wrong chosies yes they do but that doesnt mean all of them have bad hearts all you guys do is talk smack about people threw the interent just leave hima laone aready hes not hereno more u guys dont no cramp about what happen get ur facts straghit hes not the one who killed no 1 hes never killed anyone in his life thoses stupid guys were the once that killed n if he had a gun he would of shot bak but he didnt so wut does dat tell u he didnt he was helpless he got shot when he gave up his bike n he still got shot they shot him n laugh there people wit no hearts n i hope really hope that all u people that tlk smack feel the pain we feel n i hope they tlk smack like u guys r doing because wut comes around goes bak around t stupid people like u guys

yes ill cooment on dat all the ppl that say there relived n not sadded over hiss death its bkuz there heartless stupid ppl wit dont kare wut ever 1 else has to say u ppl dnt no him u dnt no wut happen u guys r ppl wit no lifes that like to tlk cramp ovr the interent abt a boy that wus killed wut kulled he do now n all the bs u guys say i hope that when u lose sum1 they slk sh``t abt them to n lets c how all u guys feel stupid lame ppl get a dam life grow up n let him rest in peace.....

R.ip miguel is right.

Word on the streets gets around before the homicide is put on this site.
And the streets say he did have a gun.
No disrespect may he rest in peace

the streets say he had a gun no he didnt bkuz all thee ppl that say that dont no they just like to start lies kuz every bad thing about him is lies how wuld any one no what happen realy people need to stop talking all the cramp n leave him alone forreals u guys need to grow up

How do people know, lets see it starts out like this after they commit the crime they run to there homeboys and tell them they just killed someone, then there homeboys say what happen, then they tell them the story, then there whole gang knows, then people on the streets ask what really happen, then before you know it the majority of the neighborhood knows.
How do i know because I'm a resident in this neighborhood.
Honestly i meant no disrespect, but you need to find out what REALLY happened it wasn't a jacking. He wasn't a good kid, Come on he was a known gang member.

dear RIP Miguel,

I will keep in mind that you are probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 years old so with that in mind. Do yourself a big favor go back to school! Get an education! Im meory of or in spite of Machuca. He was what he was. Nothing is going to change his situation. Nothing is going to change the way he died or how he died or why he died. However, you my dear are still here. You deserve to live your life! Not the life that your "hood" or your family had choosen for you but your life. Your still so young and capable of making strong changes from your current situation. Just because Machuca was a gang member and died a gang member and will always just be a number on some detectives file or a coroner's report doesn't mean that you have to end up the same way. From the posting that you have contibuted to this site you are heading down the wrong road and you hitched your ride to the wrong star! Machuca is not a hero in his short life he didn't do anything to contibute a positive change to his family or his small small world. Dear one do NOT end up a number on someone's file just like Machuca get yourself clean and make positive steps. Because if there is one thing that this blog has taught all of us is there cames a time when it is too late. No matter what changes you want to make at 20 your reputation doesn't let you anymore. Start over or new or again for the last time. Clean up the postings and start by getting an education. It isn't going to be easy but it's a lot better then the alternative or having to look over your shoulder all the time. Good luck.

it wuss a jackinq want to no why because they took his bike and even the loest thing thy took his shoes n his life soo if he wus or wusnt innocent that has nothinq to do wit why they stoled hiss stuff n his life and he was none alot of people here are none to and it doesnt matter that he was frm a gang he wasnt the only one none alot of people are none here so its not only him

Hey r.i.p miguel: when you say that it doesn't matter that he was from a gang, you are wrong. It is likely that the reason they went after him and stole his stuff was to humiliate and harass him because they knew about his gang affiliation. Being part of a gang increases your risk of a violent death by at least 100 fold. Stay away from these death traps and go lead an honest and safe life. Don't let yourself end up like Miguel did.

— r.i.p miguel, it does matter that he was from a gang. He chose a violent life in which he wanted to terrorize other people. He brought a gun to a fight. And he was intending to use it to kill other people.

Do you understand that? Good people do not join gangs. Good people do not carry guns with the intent to shoot at people.

BTW, keep up your studies at school. You need a lot more practice with spelling and grammar.

r.i.p miguel

Your right it was a jacking but not at first, it was a gang thing at first.

Boyle Heights Citizen, I agree with you. All my comments regarding this homicide have not been posted. Why are the LA Times trying to hide the truth about Machuca?

Just because he was gang affilated doesn't mean he deserved to be shot, He was a strong human being whom had a family that loved and cared for him very much! He might've chose the wrong desicions but he still was a person with rights. Rest In Peace Miguel<3