City Attorney to sue ‘Gang Apartment’ owners
November 26, 2015
City News Service
City Attorney Mike Feuer announced Monday he is suing the owners of two South Los Angeles properties — an apartment complex and a four-plex — that allegedly serve as strongholds for feuding gangs. One of the two nuisance abatement lawsuits was filed against Main-South Central Associates, LP, which owns a 36-unit apartment complex at 9310 S. Central Ave. that is thought to be the base for the Be Bop Bloods gang, according to Feuer. City attorneys say police have made 30 arrests related to gun possession and narcotics activity at the apartment complex since 2011.
There have also been at least eight shootings in that time, as well as one homicide in September, according to city attorneys. The other lawsuit was filed against the current and former owners of a four-plex at 857 E. 90th St., which is allegedly associated with the Family Swans Bloods, which is thought to be the rival of the Be Bop Bloods. The property is affiliated with five drive-by shootings, including a recent incident in September that resulted in one stabbing, six arrests and the recovery of nine loaded guns, according to Feuer.
Both properties are within 2,000 feet of schools, churches and recreational centers, city attorneys said.
“For too long, the residents of these South Los Angeles neighborhoods have lived in a war zone,” Feuer said. “Our lawsuits aim to shut down these gang strongholds and stop the bullets from flying.”
City attorneys are seeking nuisance abatement measures against the two properties, which include prohibiting gang members and criminal activity, the hiring of armed security guards, better screening of tenants, and the installation of a video-monitoring system, security gates, fencing and lighting. The lawsuits were filed Friday, with hearings yet to be scheduled, according to the City Attorney’s Office.