22-year-old man arrested after Carson gang shooting leaves two dead – Press Telegram

A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with a shooting that left two men dead in Carson over the weekend, authorities said.

Raymond Maose of Carson was identified as one of the two gunmen in a gang-related shooting in the 100 block of West 234th Street Saturday night, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Steven De Jong said.

The shooting killed 18-year-old Va'afatu Mativa of Gardena, who was found on the sidewalk, and 44-year-old Richard Mata of Carson, who was found dead in his vehicle.

Investigators now believe Mata fired first from his vehicle, hitting Mativa, who was standing outside, De Jong said. Maose then fired back, hitting Mata, whose vehicle rolled across Main Street and eventually struck a parked car in the 100 block of East 234th Street.

Investigators initially assumed that the two dead men may have shot at each other and said they were members of gang groups that “had never gotten along with each other,” De Jong said.

However, investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the shooting, De Jong said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips may also be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at lacrimestoppers.org.