Burbank Leader, March
1998
21-year-old is Burbank's
third homicide of the year
Man killed in fight
between rival gangs at Buena Vista Motel. Police hunt for suspects.
Media District North -
Burbank police were searching Tuesday for the killer or killers of a
21-year-old Burbank man slain in the city's third homicide in three months.
Vicente Gonzalez who was
shot in the head and stomach early Sunday morning at the Buena Vista Motel on
Buena Vista Street, following an arguement between rival gang members, said
Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown. Gonzalez was taken off life-support at Providence
St. Joseph Medical Center Monday afternoon and was pronounced dead shortly
after, hospital officials confirmed.
No arrests were made as
of late Tuesday in the incident, which Brown said involved as many as 100
people, including gang members from Burbank and Los Angeles. Brown would not
say whether Gonzalez was a gang member.
The shooting occurred
just after midnight Sunday at the motel located at 2255 N Buena Vista Street.
The two gangs were holding seperate parties in rented rooms when they became
aware of the other's presence and began to argue, Brown said.
The argument quickly
escalated to bottle throwing. Then someone fired shots -- but not at random,
Brown said. "Witnesses indicate
that the victim was chased down and shot," he said. "It's
definitely 'murder one.' "
No one else was injured
in the incident. Brown said police did not know how many people were actually
involved in the shooting. At the time of the incident there were several other
parties -- not gang related -- going on at the motel, Brown said. The gangs,
both with as many as 1,000 members from Burbank and Los Angeles, are well known
to area law enforcement, Brown said. Police were checking out solid leads in
the case, he said.
Police believe
party-goers and employees at the motel early Sunday may have seen the crime and
may be able to identify the shooter. Brown said police have questioned or
interviewed between 30 to 40 people. Phone calls to the motel management were
not answered Monday and Tuesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burbank Leader, March
1998
Police continue search
in third homicide of year
Vincente Gonzalez,
21, is buried. Co-worker says Burbank resident was trying to get out of gang
life.
San Fernando - As
grieving family and friends of 21-year-old Vincente David Gonzalez laid him to
rest Friday in a simple ceremony at San Fernando Mission Chapel, Burbank Police
continued the search for his killer or killers.
Gonzalez a lifetime
Burbank resident, was gunned down Sunday morning at the Buena Vista Motel following
a brawl among dozens of rival gang members who were holding separate parties in
rooms there, police said. Gonzalez
apparently was chased down by gamg members and shot in the head and
stomach.
Authorities are keeping
quiet on how close they are to an arrest in the city's third homicide of the
year, saying they don't want to jeopardize their case. Thet do however, say
they are working on solid leads.
Gonzalez, a former
busboy at Bobby McGee's restaurant, was trying to disassociate himself from
gang life according to a friend who identified herself only as a close
co-worker. "Vincent was hard-working, he was trying to get out of that
whole thing." she said. "He had just been promoted."
She remembered him as
caring and funny. Gonzalez was beloved by staff at the restaurant and many
employees attended the funeral, she said. "He will be very missed,"
she said. Police have declined to say whether Gonzalez was a member of a gang.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Burbank Leader, March 1998
Mr. Vincente David
Gonzalez, 21, died March 2, 1998 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. Mr.
Gonzalez was born in California. He lived in Burbank all his life. He was an
employee of Bobby McGee's restaurant.
Mr. Gonzalez is survived
by his mother, Irma Alvarado; brothers, Gilbert and Enrique Gonzalez; and
sisters, Elvita Gonzalez, Cynthia Alvarado and Tiffany Navarro.
Funeral services were
Friday, March 6 at San Fernando Mission Chapel. Interment followed at San
Fernando Mission Cemetery. The Valley Funeral Home was in charge of the
arrangements.
Note: Do not know if he graduated from BHS. The above photo is from the 1994 yearbook and he was a member of the Tech Club. Do not know if he is a Soph, Junior or Senior in this photo.
Note: Do not know if he graduated from BHS. The above photo is from the 1994 yearbook and he was a member of the Tech Club. Do not know if he is a Soph, Junior or Senior in this photo.
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