Police Arrest Suspect in Carter's Killing

By Jorge Casuso

Sept. 8 -- A 21-year-old Hispanic resident of Santa Monica was arrested Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of Jalonnie D. Carter, who was gunned down in a Pico Neighborhood alley last week in the year's first homicide, according to police.

The suspect, Arthur Able Archuletta, was also arrested for parole violation, said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the police department spokesman.

Police are searching for additional suspects in the shooting of Carter, a 19-year-old black resident who was shot in the back in the alley on the 1800 block of 20th street last Tuesday evening, Fabrega said.

"We haven't determined if it's gang related," he said.

Those who knew Carter described him as a friendly young man who graduated from Olympic High School and was working two jobs while studying for a career in computers. He was gunned down near the small apartment he shared with his mother and stepfather in a crime-prone pocket of the Pico Neighborhood.

"Everybody says the same thing," said Oscar de la Torre, executive director of the Pico Youth and Family Center, which serves at-risk youth. "He was a nice kid, always smiled. He wasn't a violent type young man."

The Pico Neighborhood has been the scene of numerous shootings during recent years, some of them gang-related.

"If you grow up in a low-income neighborhood, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time," said de la Torre, who is a member of the School Board. "His homicide is the result of at least 15 years of gang war."

Carter's shooting occurred in the same area where five shootings took place earlier this year. No one was injured in the shootings, which occurred between May 9 and June 5.

Police arrested eight suspects for charges ranging from parole violations to attempted murder.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Robbery/Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at 310.458.8451 or the Watch Commander’s Office at 310.458.8426.

The Pico Youth and Family Center has set up a fund to help Carter's family with the funeral expenses.  Donations can be sent to The Jalonnie Carter Fund, 828 Pico Boulevard # 9, Santa Monica, CA 90405.