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'MySpace' Details May Have Led to Fatal Party Shooting

Monday, July 23, 2007

ALTA LOMA, July 22, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- A party to celebrate a big occasion takes a tragic turn when a gunman opens fire, killing one and injuring four others. Deputies believe the shooter may have found out about the party on MySpace.com.

The shooting happened early Sunday morning in the normally quiet Alta Loma section of Rancho Cucamonga. About 100 people were gathered to celebrate a high school student getting into college. Eyewitness News Reporter Melissa MacBride picks up the story from there.

A police helicopter, gunshots and the sight of a body in the street were unheard of in this Alta Loma neighborhood until early Sunday morning, when San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 6100 block of Topaz for shots fired at a high school house party.

"They saw a large group of people in the street screaming that they had been shot. They did find one 18-year-old black male down in the middle of the street. He had been shot, and he was pronounced dead," said Cindy Beavers, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept.

Two young people were critically injured and two others had minor injuries.

Neighbors Erica Elliott and Melanie Finder were not at the party but saw the chaos unfold.

"We heard three at first, and she goes, 'Oh, they're fireworks,' and then I heard more, and I was like, 'Those aren't fireworks,'" said neighbor Melanie Finder.

"It was really scary. We saw the flashes from the guns and all we did was run inside," said neighbor Erica Elliott.

Neighbors say the girl having the party was celebrating her acceptance into college. She informed the neighborhood that she was going to have a party, but neighbors say things got out of hand very quickly.

Teens in the neighborhood say the party was posted on MySpace. Authorities say the deadly shooting may be gang-related.

"The suspects arrived at the party and began shooting. They were not invited," said Beavers.

Long-time neighbors say they have never witnessed such a violent crime where they live.

"We have lived in this neighborhood for 31 years and this is the first time anything has happened that even was of this magnitude," said neighbor Elaine England.

"It was pretty scary. We don't get that in this Alta Loma neighborhood at all," said neighbor Lynn Perry.

Investigators don't know a motive for the shooting, and they're looking for the gunman who turned a celebration into the biggest tragedy one neighborhood has ever known.

With the investigation continuing, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with information to call them.

You can remain anonymous by calling the WE-TIP hotline: 1-800-78-CRIME.

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