LAPD Top Wanted Gang Member Arrested

Los Angeles: Detectives from Gang and Narcotics Division announced the arrest of a top ten wanted gang member for murder.

Suspect Dion Hays was wanted for the July 5th 2005 murder of Andre Williams.  Hayes is a “79 Swan Family Blood” gang member known as “Solo”.   This was a gang-related murder.  Hayes has prior assault charges and was convicted of a second degree assault for a homicide committed in Seattle, in 2000.

On July 5, 2005, at approximately 12:10 a.m., residents in the area of the 700 block of East Florence Avenue heard several gunshots.  Minutes later the victim was discovered dead in the rear alley.  The victim had sustained gunshot wounds.  

After an extensive investigation, 77th Street homicide detectives identified one of the suspects as Dion Hayes.  Hayes and another male had chased the victim down an alley, before fatally shooting the victim.  A felony warrant was issued for 187 PC (Murder).  Despite a coordinated search for Hayes, he avoided capture for almost four years.

Suspect Dion Hayes was arrested on June 29, 2009, at approximately 12:30 p.m.  The arrest took place in the 43500 block of Kirkland Ave in the City of Lancaster by the United States Marshals Service, Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS).  LAPD detectives assigned to the Task Force along with US Marshals received information that our wanted suspect would be at a location in the hundred block mentioned above.  The USMS Task Force responded to the location where Suspect Dion Hayes was taken into custody without incident. 

South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Group was notified and responded.

Hayes bail has been set at three million dollars. The motive for the murder was gang related.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Greg Stearns, South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Group at 213-485-2129.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org . All tips may remain anonymous.