Miguel Guzman, 16

Sept. 3, 2008, 4:56 p.m.

Miguel Angel Guzman, a 16-year-old Latino youth, was killed in a gang shooting at 5th and Bonnie Brae streets in the Westlake area of Los Angeles about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. Above, a childhood picture of Guzman was placed at his memorial shrine.

Guzman's memorial shrine. Los Angeles Police Department officials said in a statement that Guzman, a former Belmont High School student, was walking on the sidewalk when three occupants inside a tan Saturn pulled up next to him. The front passenger of the car asked Guzman what gang he belonged to, the statement said. After Guzman responded with his gang name, the passenger exited the car and shot Guzman in the chest, the statement said.

Guzman was taken to L.A. County USC-Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Many of the sidewalks in this part of the Westlake area are dumping sites. Officers from LAPD's Rampart Division searched the area within minutes after the shooting and located the tan Saturn in the 400 block of Witmer Street, a block away from LAPD's new Rampart Station. Police arrested Norma Cortez, 43, and a Latino juvenile on suspicion of murder. A third person, a Latino man, escaped and remained at large, the statement said.

"We handle about 40 to 50 cases a day," said Lt. Cheryl MacWillie of the Los Angeles County coroner's office. Not all of the cases are homicides, but MacWillie says, "If there's a body on the street and a body at the hospital, which one do you think will get picked up first?"

On Saturday, flowers, a trucker hat and vigil candles were placed outside of an apartment building where Guzman was shot.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Rampart homicide Dets. John Motto or Michael Arteaga at (213) 484-3650. Callers can remain anonymous.

Photos: Top, Guzman's memorial shrine. Bottom, many of the sidewalks in this part of the Westlake area are dumping sites.

-Ruben Vives/Los Angeles Times

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44 reader comments

Unfortunatelly syscom3 you're right,when it comes to the ganglife..my father and mother did as much as they could...each individual have their own will to decide what they want some are lucky to change their life...what changed my mind a was seeing the damage i did to my parents and younger brothers afterall and knowing i was soon to be a dad ...still for me, in my case, is not enough to change bcause damage is done and that stays somewhere in me deep inside...jail and knowing someone is just hunting on you just to kill you is not fun....
There is sicker,more corrupt and more evil people than gangsters...that come from higher levels of society or government, even the media..so yeah maybe we need to start from there to "change something" but i doubt people will do that....is easier to blame the person next to you

— noyb Feb. 21, 2015 at 10:27 a.m.

Syscom3 I'm going to make a few assumptions about you just as you have done about all gang members. I would guess you are Caucasian and a retired or active cop. Am I wrong? Now, those are my assumptions but I can guarantee that you are not educated.

No child is born a gang member and no child grows up dreaming of living a gangster life. This boy was once a newborn, curious 2 year old, and an imaginative 5 year old but something happened in this young boy's life that began to shape him into the juvenile he became when he was killed.

You cannot simply say "He chose to live a gang life, he could have chosen the hard life." As if it is that simple. There are so many factors that cause children to become juvenile delinquents and turn to the path of crime and gangs. Family dysfunction, single parents, poverty, neglect, abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), social disorganization, poor education, low income neighborhoods etc.

I am, in no means, justifying their crimes or downplaying the fact that they have hurt or killed a lot of people. But can't you see that these youth, children, adolescents are victims as well? Somebody somewhere failed this child, a parent, teacher, police officer. We, society, have failed this child.

You should try practicing love and compassion instead of spewing out all this hate. Much like you believe gang members are destroying our society so is your hate, it is a poison to our society. Tell me, what makes your black heart so different from these alleged gang members you seem to hate so much?

A terrorist is defined as, a person who uses violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

Sounds to me like you are the terrorist.

May all those who fell victim to the street rest in paradise.

— Marisol Aug. 1, 2014 at 12:52 a.m.

Honestly I see a bunch ignorant and extremely rude people in here specially syscom3.. u don't know not a Damn thing of respect.. this might be a public place to show how u feel but if u really feel like that go tell it to a gangster.. I don't know this guy, but my condolences go to his family.. not everybody gets a choice.. not everybody has a mommy and daddy to show them the right way.. sadly but true most of our parents are too busy busting their ass tryna keep a roof over our head .. so what are these kids to do.. obviously as they grow some realize the choice they made was wrong and switch their lives around.. but unfortunately this little man's opportunity was taken away..all I have to say is that I no one in here has the right do judge anyone.. for God don't judge u for your mistakes.. so if u ain't got anything productive to say shut up!!

— westwest Feb. 12, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

@ Dave,

Hate email? Quite the contrary. Your story NEEDS to be shared. Nothing satisfies me more personally regarding gang life, environment and behavior than hearing about someone who understood the choice and chose the harder, correct path.

May God bless you for your decisions, your parents for putting the time in and those like you who make a difference.

@ Tammy,

Syscom and Meck are right. Sometimes it is harsh, but sugar coating the facts just adds fuel to the fire. This blog is a place for the public to share their comments and frustrations based on the homicide report published as much as it is for loved ones to share a memory.

Sure, "What the hell do you know? You didn't know him!!!" If you read these blogs long enough there is an obvious pattern that repeats itself endlessly. The pattern of enabling parents, sociopaths with utter disregard and compassion for human life and families stating, "he was a good kid" and "Rest In Paradise".

If you live the gang life, odds are you will end up in jail or dead at an early age. These are statistics that you can argue with all you want to, but the proof is in the numbers.

At any rate, RIP Miguel. It's a shame you didn't choose the harder path.

— mightymike33tm3 Sept. 14, 2011 at 1:53 p.m.

Where are the parents? Why do we allow our young children to be brainwashed by these gang memebers? If we would give our children the time that these sick individuals do, the world would be a much better place. Let's teach our children about integrity and get them off the streets. We're slowly losing a grip on our humanity. As a Latino father and member of this society and great country, we need to show our children a better way. I was raised in Compton and still bear signs of gang affiliation. I have tattoos and scars from being shot many times. And now my children see them and ask me about them. I sit them all down and explain to them how our decisions can and will affect the rest of their lives. I got out. But unfortunately many others like Miguel don't get that chance. I know Miguel was not innocent. I know what gang members do....I say that not to offend, but to inform.

— CONCERNED PARENT. Sept. 14, 2011 at 10:53 a.m.

"My Adam" by Tracy Lamont

I walked away that morning, without a backward glance,
I didn't know that moment was going to be our last.
The last time I would hold you or see your lovely face,
The last time I would kiss you and feel your strong embrace.

So solid and so real,so vibrant and alive,
A happy face with twinkling eyes, my fine young man, my child.
My first-born son, my Adam, the apple of my eye,
so cruelly taken from me, I never said goodbye.

The shattered remnant of my heart is strangely beating still,
with holes so black and fathomless no light could ever fill.
I don't know how I face each day without my darling boy.
Gone is all the happiness, the love of life, the joy.

The years stretch on before me, so bleak and dark and long,
I pray you walk beside me, son, and help to keep me strong.
And when my life is over, come to me on that day,
and smile at me and hold me tight and carry me away.

The wind that whispers through the trees, the brightest star at night,
a rainbow on a dismal day, a shaft of golden light,
All these are signs you send to me, a message from above,
that even death can't break the bonds of Son and Mother Love...

— Girbaud King July 28, 2011 at 6:49 a.m.

It is sad that another youth took the wrong path. But, as syscom3 - I will shed no tear.

Before you start with your response I want you to know that I am a Latino that grew up on Washington and Crenshaw with gangs such a 18 street, school yard Crips, Mid City, MS and old school gangs such as Harpies, Playboys, and Crazy Riders. During a time tagging crews such as TIK, FMA, and USV were being forced to become muscle for the gangs they were in. I went to LA High where I walked blocks infested of dealers and witness the violence that surrounds gang culture.

But - guess what? My parents where involved in my life and spent the early years of my life instilling true family values and thought me between right and wrong and to always work hard because the easy life is the gang life and it is short lived.

I chose to work hard and not pick the easy life of running with gangs. Gangs don't waste their time trying to recruit someone who does not have a need to be running the streets after 9 PM when their are 14 years old.

Parents will see their "nene" (son) with the gangster pants and short hair and claim their soon is good son. He might be a good person but is living a false life a thug.

I now live in Westlake Village with my kids raising them with the same values my parents raised me.

When a youth joined a gang it was choice and because his / her parents failed them.

I see parents tired from working long hours and use the TV as the babysitter. My parents worked 2 jobs and regardless of how tired they were. They always made sure my homework was done and never allowed me to dress as a thug even if that was the trend.

My tears are for those soldiers and the victims of violence.

But, every life has a value even if we don't share a tear. It is always sad to hear the death of someone. I will always put the blame on the parents for not being the moral compass. #my2cents.

Send me your hate mail.

— Dave June 15, 2011 at 10:02 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Miguel Guzman, 16

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44 reader comments