By Carlos Montes

Los Angeles, CA – On June 15, 18-year-old Pedro Echevarria was shot four times by LA Police Department Hollenbeck station cop Carbajal. He survived after neighbor Darlene intervened, yelling, “Stop shooting! Don’t kill him!”

Pedro Echevarria, who lives in the Rose Hills area of El Sereno in the Eastside of LA, is still in intensive care unit at the LAC+USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights under 24-hour police guard, having undergone several major operations. His parents can only see him with a police escort as he is being held on $100,000 bond for alleged gun possession. Echevarria had graduated from Central High School the day before and was working as a painter. He had been harassed by officer Carbajal several times in the past.

Family, local community members and supporters held a vigil in front of LAC+USC Medical Center calling for solidarity with Pedro and the family.

Members of Centro CSO, with the parents of Jesse Romero (a 14-year-old killed by LAPD last August), visited the hospital to support the family and stand in unity with families who are victims of police brutality.

Pedro’s parents Raul and Rosa, originally from El Salvador, are calling for justice, and for prosecution of the police. The LAPD Hollenbeck station has had a high number of police killings recently. The community, with Centro CSO, have held several protests at the LAPD and district attorney’s office to denounce these police killings and call for the firing and prosecution of the killer cops.