Fourteen-year-old Josue Zavaleta was shot and killed on October 11, 2003, in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. Coroner’s records state he was struck in the back of the head while in the vicinity of Orchard Avenue after spending the evening of October 10 with a group that included members of a tagging crew known as S4M (Sex For Money). Josue was not affiliated with any gang.

Accounts say a gray Toyota Camry carrying members of the Harpys drove down Orchard Avenue and that Ivan Mejia, seated in the rear passenger seat and known as Chilo, fired multiple shots at the group, shouting a derogatory term aimed at the Easy Riders, whose territory includes that area. One bullet killed Josue; others nearby were endangered but not injured.

A witness who was at the scene later identified Ivan Mejia as the shooter, which led to charges of first-degree murder with an allegation the killing was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. What details about motive, other witnesses, or events immediately before the shooting remain unclear?