Authorities Name Suspect in Slaying

SAN FERNANDO — Police say a Mexican national deported by federal immigration authorities for criminal activities slipped back into the U.S. to kill a local man he mistakenly connected to a gang-related slaying.

Police are seeking Ernesto Perez Torres, 23, who is suspected of fatally shooting Robert Torres, 35, on Oct. 9 in the 500 block of Kalisher Street. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Ernesto Torres, who is not related to the victim.

Police say Ernesto Torres, a member of the Shakin’ Cats street gang, is on parole for assault with a deadly weapon and spousal abuse.

Calling the killing “a cowardly and cold-blooded act,” Zev Yaroslavsky, chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said Friday he and Supervisor Mike Antonovich intend to post a $5,000 reward during the board’s meeting Tuesday for information leading to a conviction in the case.

“We are declaring all-out war on gang killings,” Antonovich said. “We intend to reward the foot soldiers who make that war winnable.”

Robert Torres was killed a day after he was released from prison, where he had served a one-year sentence for violating his probation on previous burglary and drug possession convictions.

Homicide investigators said they suspect Torres was slain because of a tattoo of the letters “SF,” the moniker of the San Fer gang, on his left hand.

Investigators said the shooter was apparently avenging the killing of a Shakin’ Cats gang member who was slain several days before Robert Torres was released from prison.

Robert Torres got the “SF” tattoo when he was 15, but had not been in the gang for 20 years, his family said. Detectives agree he was not an active gang member.

A tip from a witness led detectives to Ernesto Torres, who returned to California from Mexico sometime after he was deported in April, police said.

Frances Hernandez, Robert Torres’ mother, is upset with police, she said, because investigators were aware of the suspected killer’s identity within hours of the shooting.

“I’m outraged that they allowed this man to walk the streets,” said Hernandez. “What were they waiting for?”

San Fernando Det. Lance Steaman said investigators knew about the suspect the day after the killing and alerted neighboring law enforcement agencies. But, he added, authorities thought it would be easier to locate the man on their own rather than alert the public.

“Going public is like a starter’s pistol going off,” Steaman said. “You can be sure this guy will be on the run. We’ve spared no amount of time or expense in trying to chase this suspect down. Now our leads have dried up, so we’re turning to the public.”

Anyone with information on Ernesto Torres’ whereabouts is asked to call the San Fernando Police Department at (818) 898-1272 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (213) 890-5500.

Robert Torres’ family has established a memorial fund in his name to be used to support his five children. Donations can be given to the Robert R. Torres Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank in San Fernando.