Los Angeles police have arrested a man suspected of killing three people and wounding five others in a trio of shootings in Harbor City, San Pedro, and Wilmington.
Dion Johnson, 20, was arrested on Jan. 18, LAPD Captain Jamie Bennett said at a press conference Thursday. He was charged by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office with murder and attempted murder.
“I cannot get into the mind of the individual that did this offense,” Bennett said.
Police say the first incident occurred on Sept. 4, 2023, when 21-year-old Carlos Loera and 18-year-old Ashley Guzman were fatally shot while sitting in a car in Harbor City. Their 1-year-old child was also struck by gunfire, but survived.
“Miraculously, the child was in his car seat, and the bullet passed through the car seat, slowing its velocity and not causing mortal injury or severe injury to the child,” Bennett said.
On Sept. 30, 2023, Joseph Saldana, 17, was shot and killed outside a house party Three other people with Saldana were also shot and injured, the LAPD said.
On Oct. 2, 2023, another man was shot and wounded in Wilmington.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Deputy District Attorney Bobby Grace offered condolences to the victims’ families,s aying no one should have to go through something like this.
“You had a 17-year-old who was murdered. You had a young couple who was trying to raise a family who were murdered, and you have a young son who has to go through his life now without his parents,” Grace said.
Police believe the shootings were all gang-related. The prosecutor also said evidence suggests there may have been other people involved in the shooting.
The LAPD said Johnson previously served time in Las Vegas for robbery and shooting into an occupied building.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
