Posted on 08/15/2007 5:58:32 AM PDT by BenLurkin
CBS) PICO RIVERA, Calif. Authorities advised the public Tuesday not to confront taggers, in response to the fatal shooting of a Pico Rivera woman who flashed her car lights at one.
"We want to be contacted as soon as possible, with any kind of information -- license plate numbers or description of the suspects," sheriff's Deputy Johnnie Jones said. "Do not put yourself at any danger or risk because some of these folks can be very dangerous."
Maria Hicks, 58, flashed her vehicle lights and honked her horn at a male she saw tagging a wall at San Gabriel River Parkway and Woodford Street shortly before 10 on Friday night, said Deputy Maribel Rizo.
As she followed the tagger who was walking away from the wall, a gray compact car with an unknown number of male suspects, drove up behind her and someone fired several rounds at her, Rizo said.
Hicks died of a wound shortly before noon Monday, according to the sheriff's department.
Neighborhood residents repainted the wall where Hicks first saw the tagger and placed lit candles and flowers there.
No arrests have been made. The suspect is described as "very dangerous," according to NBC4.
Hicks was a grandmother of eight and described as a quiet and caring person.
Hicks "paid a high price for the idea of law and order," said Hicks’ brother, Ruben Quintero, an English literature professor at Cal State Los Angeles. "I think we shouldn't give up on that idea since she has already paid the price. We should hold onto this idea of being civilized."
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
B-b-b-but I thought tagging was just a multicultural self-expression of art and free speech!..............taggers don’t kill people! Guns kill people!.............
Yep.
A graffeti artist
Vandalism.
A tagger is a vandal with a can of spray paint.
IF it weren’t for the confirmed death, I’d have pointed you to snopes.com
B-b-b-but the artist was just expresssssing himself. Prayers for the victim.
This was obviously gang-related. The taggers were marking their gang’s territory. I’d say that Pico Rivera has problems more serious than just a few graffitti artists.
A 'tagger' is a member of our richly diverse culture that specializes in custom painting walls, concrete bridges and railroad boxcars.
beautifull sentiment, covers my feelings towards the WOT
Taggers:
Gang member vandals, very often illegal aliens, who mark their “turf” with spraypaint, exactly the way dogs do on trees.
How I wish I lived in a part of the USA where people have never heard the term ‘tagger’ and things like this are considered incredible.
“Hicks “paid a high price for the idea of law and order,” said Hicks’ brother, Ruben Quintero, an English literature professor at Cal State Los Angeles. “I think we shouldn’t give up on that idea since she has already paid the price. We should hold onto this idea of being civilized.””
What a contrast to members of our justice system, who have lately seemed to go out of their way to be lenient to or to free violent criminals. She was certainly brave in trying to deter these criminals, probably knowing that our justice system would never do so.
Prayers for her family.
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