Compton Councilman Insists Shooting That Killed Brother Is Case Of Mistaken Identity
EAST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An East Los Angeles community held a rally Wednesday night, days after a shooting claimed the life of one of the brothers of a Compton councilman.
The shooting unfolded Monday in the 900 block of South La Verne Avenue and left another brother of Compton Councilman Isaac Galvan wounded.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's office called it a targeted, gang-related shooting, but Galvan hopes to clear his brother's name.
"My brother was not a gang member," said Galvan, who says it was a case of mistaken identity.
"From talking with some of the people who were there and talking to some of the people who visited us and brought us flowers, that's what we believe," he said.
Galvan spoke with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell and plans to meet with the sheriff Thursday afternoon. He wants to ask why detectives seem to believe his brother was in a gang.
He and his mother are hoping for justice.
"Larry was a good kid, he has a good heart," said Esther Galvan, the mother.
But they also want peace in their community.
"I don't want nobody out there who was friends with my brother to retaliate because this has to end now," he said. "A father was taken away from his kids, and the last thing we would want is for that to happen again to the person responsible for this."
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Galvan says he plans to ask Sheriff McDonnell to match that.
