BOYS, 14 AND 15, HELD IN DRIVE-BY POLICE: TEENS SHOT AT RIVAL TAGGERS.

Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer

NORTH HILLS -- In a sign that the San Fernando Valley's surge in gang violence could be drawing in younger members, police said they arrested a 15-year-old triggerman and his 14-year-old accomplice Wednesday after a drive-by shooting that seriously injured a 12-year-old and two of his teenage friends.

The two suspected gang members are accused of attacking three boys who police said belong to a graffiti, or tagging, crew. A third suspect in Tuesday's North Hills drive-by shooting remains at large.

``These are not established gang members. These are junior high and high school students who are taking out a gun to shoot another over a tag,'' said Michel Moore, Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief.

It was the latest in a growing number of bloody clashes on local streets sparked by roaming bands of teens carrying cans of spray paint and etching tools. Tagging crews, which can start in grade school and continue through high school, leave self-styled monikers scrawled across store fronts, freeway overpasses and street signs for notoriety.

Police estimate there are at least 150 tagging crews in the Valley.

Wars are declared among tagging crews when they cross out competitors' nicknames or paint over them -- known as capping. Taggers can also find trouble with established gangs who traditionally mark their territory with their own symbols and don't want tagging on their streets.

In a new trend, taggers are arming themselves with guns and other weapons as defense against other tagging crews and gangs -- leading to behavior previously associated only with gangs.

Last month, an 18-year-old North Hollywood man was shot to death by a crew of taggers on a street plastered with his nickname in black spray paint.

The man was the 37th victim of a gang-related killing this year in the San Fernando Valley. These deaths account for more than half of the homicides in the Valley so far this year and already surpass last year's total gang killings.

Moore attributed the increase in gang violence to a proliferation of young tagging crews and said more officers are being added to street patrols. Although he said the violence is nothing to dismiss, he added that it's not at a level where residents should be afraid to go outside.

Everyone ``should be able to stand on the street and not fear you're going to be shot in cold blood,'' he said. ``Gang members will target and use violence against those who merely disagree or merely paint something on a wall.''

With the exception of the 12-year-old, all involved in Tuesday's shooting are Monroe High School students. But news of the drive-by in the 9400 block of Orion Avenue wasn't the topic of conversation Wednesday at the campus that sits just blocks away, students said.

``I think people have gotten used to the fact that there are gangs around,'' said 17-year-old Duane Rose as he walked home from school.

Rose stepped across white flare debris on the street between Plummer Street and Orion Avenue that was closed off after Tuesday's shooting. Light tagging marked the sidewalk and street light poles on Plummer, but the tree-lined Orion appeared largely untouched.

However, residents living there remained jittery after the shooting. In fact, three girls walking home ran away when a pickup truck with its windows down crept suspiciously down Orion.

William ``Blinky'' Rodriguez, who operates Communities in Schools, a gang-prevention and intervention nonprofit, said many are unaware of the growing number of young adults on the streets and the violence they face every day. ``People need to recognize that there's nothing normal about what's going on,'' Rodriguez said.

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

If You Go

To combat youth violence, thousands of people are expected to gather at Pierce College for a four-day anti-gang event that will kick off tonight.It will begin at 7 p.m. on the Woodland Hills campus, 6201 Winnetka Ave.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

If you go (see text)