News Releases

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that Gary Garcia Jr. and Timberland McKneely have been charged with murdering four people, three men and a child, and attempting to murder two others, including a child, between February 11 and 12 in the cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park, and unincorporated Los Angeles.

“In the face of this devastating crime spree that claimed the lives of four innocent people, including a child, my heart aches for the victims and their grieving families,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Multiple communities have been terrorized by these men’s callous, cruel, and cold-hearted actions. This senseless violence will not go unanswered by the scales of justice. Our Major Crimes Division is working tirelessly to hold these two men accountable and to bring justice to the victims and their families.”

“I applaud the District Attorney for taking swift and decisive action in filing murder charges against these two gang members responsible for the heinous murders of four innocent people including a teenager,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District. “Families across Southeast Los Angeles are grieving, and communities are still shaken by the terror created by this senseless rampage. Nothing we can do will make these families whole again, but these men must be held accountable for the pain they caused and the lives they stole.”

“Homicide detectives and multiple Department resources worked around the clock to identify and arrest the suspects who were threatening the safety of our communities and involved in these senseless murders,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Captain Andy Meyer. “We hope that bringing these individuals to justice will provide some comfort to the families who have lost loved ones and it also sends a clear message that if you commit a crime regardless of law-enforcement jurisdiction, you will be caught and held accountable.”

“These senseless acts of violence are unfortunate and send shockwaves throughout our communities,” said Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano. “We will continue to work in partnership with the Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office to prosecute those responsible, bring justice to the families who have suffered tremendous loss, and to restore peace and confidence in our community. The victims and families affected by this terrible tragedy deserve our relentless support, so that we can ensure that the power of the justice system will ensure these criminals spend the rest of their life in prison”.

Gary Garcia Jr. (dob 07/20/1981) and Timberland McKneely (dob 03/13/2003) are each charged with four counts of murder, and two counts of attempted willful, deliberate, premeditated murder.

*It is further alleged that the special circumstance of multiple murders in violation of Penal Code section 190.2(a)(3) and the special circumstance of shooting from a motor vehicle causing death in violation of Penal Code section 190.2(a)(21) were committed.

Garcia and McKneely are scheduled to be arraigned today in Dept. 5 at the Downey Courthouse.

On February 11, Garcia and McKneely allegedly shot and killed a 24-year-old man on the 6500 block of Bear Avenue in the city of Bell. A 29-year-old man was also fired upon but was uninjured.

On February 12, Garcia and McKneely allegedly shot and killed a 27-year-old man in the 1500 block of East Florence Avenue in Los Angeles.

A short time later that same day, the duo allegedly shot and killed a 14-year-old boy and shot and injured a 13-year-old boy in the 5000 block of Live Oak Street in Cudahy.

Almost two hours later that same day, the men allegedly shot and killed a man, approximately 35-45 years old, in the 6300 block of Santa Fe Avenue in Huntington Park.

The People are requesting that Garcia and McKneely be held on no bail.

If convicted as charged, Garcia and McKneely will face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau.