Rewards Offered for Leads in 11 Murders

The Los Angeles City Council posted a total of $110,000 in rewards Wednesday for information leading to suspects in 11 gang-related murders that have occurred in Venice and Mar Vista since February.

“We are desperate to get the community involved and not quite so fearful about sharing information,” said Ruth Galanter, who represents the Westside district where the killings occurred.

She said the money would be paid out if the information leads to the conviction of those involved in the murders. Police ran out of leads and asked the council to help encourage possible witnesses to come forward, Galanter said.

The rewards involve the shootings of Miguel Sanchez, Polo Trinidad, Michaud Lewis, Rafael Adan, Jose Barragan, Alfonso Paniagua, Abukar Elmi, Gregory Moore, Manuel Gonzalez, Peter Rangel and Porfirio Hernandez.

A $10,000 reward was attached to each case.

Anyone with information about the killings can call Det. Pete Waack at the LAPD’s Pacific Division, (310) 202-4506.

Last month, Galanter asked for a court injunction to reduce gang activity in the communities, and lobbied for more patrol officers to be deployed there.