Los Angeles County DA's Soft on Crime Approach Blamed for Deaths of Two Young People

Elimination of Gang Enhancements and Three Strikes Policy Questioned Following Tragic Newhall Shooting

The recent tragic deaths of Cameron Stokes, 16, from Valencia, and Brian Chevez, 25, from Santa Clarita, in the Newhall shooting on the 27000 block of Silverado Street have once again brought to light the issue of the Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon's soft on crime approach. The shooting is believed to have been gang-related, according to officials.

On Saturday around 11 a.m., deputies responded to reports of a shooting in Newhall, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) officials. When deputies arrived, they found Stokes and Chevez suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper torso beside a pool enclosed by a wrought-iron fence.

Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics responded but pronounced the Newhall shooting victims deceased at the scene. Deputies located a car matching the suspects' vehicle description near Via Princessa and Sierra Highway. A felony traffic stop was conducted, and two suspects were taken into custody.

These recent deaths have brought attention to the Los Angeles County district attorney's decision to eliminate gun and gang enhancements. Former district attorney Steve Cooley, who served from 2000 to 2012, has been critical of the current district attorney's soft-on-crime approach. In 2020 Cooley warned that eliminating these measures would empower Los Angeles criminals and give gang members the green light.

One of the murder suspects in connection to the Newhall shooting Saturday was previously arrested as a minor on gun charges which were dropped just 2 months ago. Anthony Martinez Ortiz, 18, from Sylmar, and a juvenile, whose identity is not being released, were arrested in connection to the Newhall shooting that killed two Santa Clarita residents who were in a rival gang with the suspects, said Lt. Reynaga, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.

The district attorney's approach may be well-intentioned, but it ultimately fails to protect the citizens of Los Angeles County. The recent deaths are not isolated incidents but directly result from the district attorney's policies. It is time for the district attorney to reconsider his approach and prioritize public safety over a misguided attempt at criminal justice reform.

When the lowest of the lowest in society are praising the District Attorney, it is time to be very concerned. Gang member Luis Angel Hernandez was recorded on a jailhouse phone call praising Gascon, saying, "This s--t looking real good. Now we got a new DA in LA … so they're going to drop a gang of, um, like my gun enhancement, my gang enhancement," Hernandez went on to say, "I'm going to get that n-----'s name on my face. That's a champ right there. F---in' Gascón."

The Los Angeles County district attorney's soft-on-crime experiment has been a failure and caused two young people's deaths, and it is time for him to take responsibility for these insane policies. Eliminating gang enhancements is a dangerous policy that puts the safety of citizens at risk. It is time for the district attorney to prioritize public safety over misguided criminal justice reform.