Police are on the prowl for surveillance footage in the San Mateo Area of San Pedro today after a man was gunned down, and another was shot in a busy area of the neighborhood last night. The victim is no stranger to police and so Jomarie Lanza headed out to the island to find out if his murder was a targeted attack. Here's that story.
It was here on the blood splattered pavement in the San Mateo area of San Pedro, that police found 28 year old Alfredo Trapp bleeding out from his gunshot injuries at 9:10 last night. He was in the company of his cousin, 38 year old Gabriel Villafranco who was also shot, but Trapp did not survive, and Villa Franco remains in critical condition. According to residents, both men lived not too far from where they were targeted. Trapp's brother who spoke to us off camera today is of the view that his sibling was not given the chance to fight back for his life.
Voice of: Brother of deceased
"That man was just coming from deliver lobster, because that is what they used to do. I don't know if he was the intended target or not but whatever it is I just hope the person that did it is happy and I can tell you God doesn't sleep. I'm not saying we will do anything or anything like that but the man above knows when it's your time it's your time."
"He was victimised because I grew up in a mannerly way that if you are a man and you have a problem with someone you want to solve, solve it like a man let's go hands up. If you beat me I am good with that you understand me I am good with that but to come and shoot the man just like that and not even give him a chance to defend himself that wasn't right, it wasn't right."
And with a recent change of command in officers overseeing the San Pedro Division, ASP Stacy Smith told us that they believe the shooting is as a result of significant illegal activity taking place in the area. And there is no telling for sure who was the intended target.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What the police has been able to ascertain so far is that both men were traveling in a Golf cart in the San Mateo area when they were accosted by two male persons who fired shots injuring them while both Villa Franco and Trapp are known to the police. No clear motive has been established in this ongoing investigation."
"However, for the past few weeks I know there has been intensive operations in that area that have led to the recovery of weapons and drugs and police continue to monitor the situation in that area."
Despite Trapp's past which linked him to a number of murders he was never convicted for, His brother says that his sibling will be remembered for the family man that he was.
Voice of: Brother of deceased
"I just came in from work when I received the call and it was very very hard for me because he is my little brother, the youngest one out of all of us. A couple years ago they took the life of my brother also in San Pedro. I'm not saying my brother might be or is a good kid because I cause I cannot put my hands on he fire for him but there is one thing I can attest and I can say he was a loving and caring father you understand me and every time he came to visit, visit my mom he was there for my mom at all times, all times through thick or thin he was there for her. And I could tell anybody and whoever did it they took away something that meant a lot to my mom especially my mom and my dad."
And while his brother's name was called in the murder investigation into the murder of tourist J'Bria Bowens - his brother says he was never convicted:
Voice of: Brother of deceased
"He was acquitted of all of that stuff and that is the reason why I am saying the police know everybody know, that young man right there is a police officer. He is my brother in law, and everybody know ask him or question him anytime if he believes in reality he had anything to do with it, and this is where I come back again and I say, I'm not saying Channel 7 but I am saying the rest of the media causes and says that my brother was wanted so if he was wanted everyone knew Alfredo in San Pedro everyone sees him walking in San Pedro, police see him in San Pedro everybody so if he was wanted wouldn't he be locked up then?"
The family of the deceased has criticized footage that's circulating showing Alfredo Trapp fighting for life in the San Pedro Emergency room.
Notably, Gabriel Villafranco was also charged in October of 2021 with the murder of 25 year old Jerry Espat - but was not convicted.
