Gang member rips off Mexican Mafia member, then killed by his own game
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caller and was then killed by his own gang to keep the heat off.
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Gang feud suspected in C.H. teen deaths
By Rod Leveque Staff Writer
CHINO HILLS - Two young men shot dead inside a minivan more than a year
ago were probably killed in a gang feud that started when one of them
unwittingly burglarized the house of a Mexican Mafia gang leader,
according to authorities.
Henry Valle and Narciso Perez, both 18, were shot in the head at close
range while parked along a normally quiet street in Chino Hills. The
case baffled detectives for months, but authorities now have a suspect
behind bars and believe they have finally brought closure to the
long-unsolved investigation.
"In these matters - gang related murders - nobody talks to us," said
Sgt. T.A. Peters of the San Bernardino County Sheriff homicide detail.
"It was very difficult to find witnesses who would cooperate."
Victor Marez, 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in
connection with the Jan. 30, 2005 killings.
Marez, who was arrested last month, is scheduled to appear Thursday in
West Valley Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga.
Investigators say they believe Marez is a member of the County Line
Mafia, a small, low-level and mostly Hispanic Pomona street gang. Both
of the victims were also members of the same gang, detectives said.
The police theory of how Marez came to kill two of his homeboys offers
an intriguing glimpse into the world of gang politics and street
justice.
According to sheriff's investigative reports, Valle, who went by the
nickname "Scrappy," went to a house on Freda Street in Pomona in early
2004 to fight another young man who he believed lived there.
During the confrontation, Valle crawled through a window of the house
and took about 2 ounces of methamphetamine and a television from
inside.
What Valle didn't know is that the house belonged to an influential
gangster who is a shot-caller for the Mexican Mafia and has ties to
Pomona's 12th Street gang, according to the reports.
Both are large, deeply-rooted, violent and influential Hispanic gangs.
The gang leader soon discovered who burglarized his home and sought
retribution. He gave a "green light" for 12th Street to kill Valle or
other members of the County Line Mafia, police believe.
Rather than face the wrath of 12th Street, Marez, and possibly other
members of the County Line Mafia, decided to take out Valle themselves,
police said.
"(12th Street) told them if they didn't clean up their own house they
would do it for them," Peters said. "They wanted it to be dealt with."
Detectives believe Marez lured Valle to the 4200 block of Los Serranos
Boulevard in Chino Hills.
They believe Valle and Perez were sitting in the front seat of a 1995
Honda Odyssey eating food from Jack in the Box and drinking beer when
Marez shot each of them in the head at close range with a .38 caliber
pistol.
Investigators say they don't believe Perez had any connection to the
burglary. They think he was killed only because he happened to be with
Valle.
"He was a completely innocent person who was in the wrong place at the
wrong time," Peters said.
Detectives arrested Marez on March 10 this year. He had a .38 caliber
gun on him that ballistics test later showed to be the murder weapon.
His cell phone had a photo of the gun as its wallpaper with a caption
reading "My true love," according to police reports.
Cell phone records also show that Marez was using his phone near the
crime scene on the night of the killings, according to the police
reports.
Marez's attorney, Christian Cruz, did not return several calls seeking
comment.
Detectives are still investigating the case. Anyone with information is
asked to call Peters at (909) 387-3571.