Alleged Gang Members Fatally Beat Man at Party, Police Say

Several suspected gang members drove off in a North Hollywood man’s Cadillac early Saturday after they allegedly beat and kicked the man to death after a party they all had attended, Los Angeles police said.

William Younger, 37, of North Hollywood was declared dead about 5:30 a.m. at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he was taken after authorities found him lying on a Canoga Park street corner, Detective Robert Peloquin said.

Witnesses told police that Younger went to the party at a residence in the 8000 block of Variel Street, stayed there several hours and was intoxicated when he left shortly before 3 a.m.

While driving away, he crashed his car into several parked vehicles belonging to other party-goers, Peloquin said. Younger’s car finally crashed into a stop sign and came to a halt.

“At that time, a group of 10 to 15 young males believed to be gang members, who were at the party, surrounded the victim’s vehicle and dragged him out of the car. The suspects then proceeded to beat the victim to death with their hands and feet,” Peloquin said.

Some of the attackers, who were between 17 to 22 years old, fled in Younger’s car. The others drove away in their own cars, Peloquin said.

There were no party-goers remaining when police arrived, authorities said. Two arrests were made Saturday, but the identities of the suspects were not released.

Peloquin said police are looking for Younger’s car, a black 1982 Cadillac sedan with license plate 1HGR325.

Younger, who police said was unemployed, went to the party with a friend of a woman who was renting the house where about 25 to 35 people had gathered to celebrate a birthday. Among the party guests were several gang members, who were friends of the guest of honor, and older friends of the woman who rented the house, police said. Younger and the woman, whose name was withheld, were not gang members, Peloquin said.