[view:node_ad=5]The investigation into an August 31, 2008, shooting in the 27500 block of Deeptree Avenue, Canyon Country, has resulted in additional arrests. Detectives from the City of Santa Clarita – Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's COBRA Team began their investigation immediately following the shooting incident and after several days of follow-up they served a search warrant at a Canyon Country residence on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

During the August 31st incident, deputies determined that one group of suspected gang members were apparently throwing beer bottles at another suspected gang member and that suspect responded by firing several gunshots from a handgun toward the bottle throwing group as they fled the area.  No one was injured.  Deputies located and arrested two suspects connected to the case later that same night, but the investigation into the identification of the shooting victims and suspected trigger man continued for several more days.

On Wednesday, September 3, 2008, COBRA Team members served a search warrant at a Canyon Country residence which resulted in the arrest of a suspected gang member who is believed to be the one who fired the gun that night.  The suspect, MH/18, of Newhall, whose name is not being released so as not to glamorize his suspected gang affiliation and to avert potential retaliation efforts, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Firearm.  He later posted $50,000 bond and was released pending future court proceedings.  During the search warrant operations detectives also recovered evidence directly linked to the Canyon Country shooting incident.

A second subject and suspected gang member, MH/14, at the location of the search warrant was arrested after COBRA Deputies connected him to a loaded stolen handgun they recovered during the warrant service.  The handgun was not the handgun used in the Canyon Country incident, but had been reported stolen during a residential burglary in the City of Palmdale in 2003. He was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on a felony charge of Receiving Stolen Property.  He was later transported to Sylmar Juvenile Hall for housing pending future court proceedings.

"We will continue to put gang members, who commit acts of crime and violence in our neighborhoods, behind bars," said Captain Anthony La Berge.  "We will follow every lead and allocate as many resources as necessary to ensure the safety and serenity of our community.  These latest arrests are another indication that we will all continue to work together with the community in sending and enforcing our message:  NO Gangs – NO Graffiti – NO Drugs and NO Violence – NO matter what."        

The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.  Anyone with information regarding the shooting incident should contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 255-1121.