Brandon John Valdez, 24, was already in custody for violating parole when Whittier police arrested him Thursday for the May 16 shooting of Daniel "Danny Boy" Quijada, 30, of Whittier.
Quijada had just left his apartment in the 6300 block of Milton Avenue when he was gunned down outside his building as children played nearby. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Along with the murder charge, Valdez is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon with prior convictions, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the county District Attorney's Office.Prosecutors further allege that Valdez personally used a handgun to commit the crime, and that it was done for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
He was being held Friday at the Inmate Reception Center in lieu of $2.1 million bail.
According to court records, Valdez has several prior convictions - in July 2006 for committing battery while he was in prison; in June 2006 for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and in June 2005 for being under the influence of a controlled substance and theft.
He also has a May 2005 conviction for theft.
Since January 2008, Whittier has imposed an injunction against Valdez and 39 other members of the Whittier Varrio Locos gang, whose activities are legally restricted within a "gang enforcement safety zone" bordered by Painter Avenue, Beverly Boulevard, Pickering Avenue and Whittier Boulevard.
Quijada, whose friends said was not in a gang, was shot within that safety zone.
Even so, Officer Mike Dekowski said the injunction has been successful, working to put most of the active members of the gang in jail or prison.
The injunction does not ban Varrio Loco members from being within the safety zone, but it restricts their activities within the area. Members are barred from having weapons, associating with other WVL members and throwing gang signs.
They also cannot engage in tagging or loitering, possessing, using or selling drugs, impeding vehicles and people, and trespassing.
Quijada had just left his apartment in the 6300 block of Milton Avenue when he was gunned down outside his building as children played nearby. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Along with the murder charge, Valdez is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon with prior convictions, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the county District Attorney's Office.Prosecutors further allege that Valdez personally used a handgun to commit the crime, and that it was done for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
He was being held Friday at the Inmate Reception Center in lieu of $2.1 million bail.
According to court records, Valdez has several prior convictions - in July 2006 for committing battery while he was in prison; in June 2006 for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and in June 2005 for being under the influence of a controlled substance and theft.
He also has a May 2005 conviction for theft.
Quijada, whose friends said was not in a gang, was shot within that safety zone.
Even so, Officer Mike Dekowski said the injunction has been successful, working to put most of the active members of the gang in jail or prison.
The injunction does not ban Varrio Loco members from being within the safety zone, but it restricts their activities within the area. Members are barred from having weapons, associating with other WVL members and throwing gang signs.
They also cannot engage in tagging or loitering, possessing, using or selling drugs, impeding vehicles and people, and trespassing.
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