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Title:

"Los Angeles detective briefs reporters on Damian Garcia homicide"

Date:
June 24, 1980

Synopsis

Lieutenant Jerry Trent, a detective at the Hollenbeck Police Station in Los Angeles, briefs reporters on the Damian Garcia homicide investigation. According to Trent, on April 22, 1980 members of the Revolutionary Communist Party, including Garcia, were in the Pico-Aliso housing project attempting to rally support for their cause. Several members of the neighborhood threw bottles at the RCP members and sprayed some with water hoses. In a physical confrontation, Garcia was stabbed resulting in his death, and another party member, Hayden Fisher, was wounded but has recovered. The police investigation was stalled because residents were afraid to identify the killer, and members of the RCP refused to cooperate with the investigation. Despite these setbacks, detectives had tentatively identified the killer as George Arellano, and discovered Arellano himself had been killed by a fellow gang member. When members of the community learned of Arellano's death, they were able to identify him from a photograph lineup. Footage also includes brief shots of a municipal courtroom. Some footage lacks sound.

Note:  The KTLA newsfilm collection at UCLA consists of cut and unedited stories, outtakes and fill footage, originally shot on 16mm reversal film stock with magnetic soundtrack. Some footage, particularly material not used for broadcast, may be without sound.