Randy Almanza, 17

Feb. 18, 2007, 3:15 p.m.

Randy Almanza, a 17-year-old Latino youth, was shot in the head at 6722 Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood and died at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 18.

The suspects -- a neighbor among them -- walked up to Almanza about 12:30 a.m. that night and shot him after what police described as a quarrel between rival tagging crews. He died later at St. Joseph's hospital. Two Latino suspects in their 20s have been arrested and the investigation continues.

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19 reader comments

Rodney,
So as long as the Grim Sleeper keeps someone working he should be set free? A crime is a crime and I don't care what level we have choosen to classify it as. To say that as long as vandalism has a positive effect because someone gets a job over it is the most ridicules thing I have read in a very long time! And as for his age 17 he might not have know what it was he wanted to do with the rest of his life but he sure as hell knew what he didn't want to do and that was be a positive and productive member of society. As far as parents not having a positive influence on thier own kids, really? because I have seen some great kids and young adults come from some really great parents. Parents that are involved, caring, loving, supportive and so on. May be that older brother can't get you to change your ways but it that really up to him to do? At 17 he knew right from wrong and should not have been commiting a crime and unfortunately his time ran out and he never got the opportunity to learn respect for others and to do unto others. Don't take away that fact that this young man made a choice and at 17 he knew exactly what he wanted to do even though he might not have known what it was he wanted 10 years from the date he died.

— Stephanie Oct. 28, 2011 at 10:29 p.m.

Syscom3, while you are right that it was a crime, you are saying that death would be an acceptable punishment for graffiti vandalism. And yes it is your opinion, and as a person in this country, society and the government has gave you the right to your own opinion. However, I do not agree with your view on his death and his family paying for whatever property damage he may have caused. As a child, especially in this society, the older adults (such as parents and sometimes even older siblings) have some or little influence on what a child decides to do with their lifestyles. I have seen many kids get in harms way because of similar situations, but I don't believe it is correct to say that death is an appropriate demise for a teenager. Especially at the age of 17, because most kids don't even know what they want to do for the rest of their lives even a year after high-school, let alone the 11th grade. You seem to be educated, but don't be ignorant, because many people who have helped change the world in the positive direction have had rough times and have gone through phases that made them the person that they are.
Also, tax payers money isn't as distributed as you would imagine it to be. I know you probably think there are thousands of dollars spent on removing the graffiti of one certain cite, but the reality is that everything that happens (yes, even vandalism), causes some type of job to be created and even more tax payers money actually sent into the state, rather than out.
Just as you have the right to hold your opinion and speak your opinion, I have spoken mine.

— Rodney Oct. 28, 2011 at 5:57 p.m.