LA gang member brought to justice thanks to distinctive body art

ANTHONY Garcia was found guilty of murder this week after years on the run. His “confession” was inked on his chest.

Anthony Garcia was caught thanks to this tattoo. Picture: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

ANTHONY Garcia’s life of crime has come to an abrupt end — and it’s all thanks to his choice of body art, and some brilliant police work.

Garcia, a member of notorious Los Angeles gang Rivera 13, has just been found guilty of the 2004 murder 23-year-old John Juarez, which took place outside a liquor store in the US city.

For years, the slaying went unsolved.

But then, in 2008, Garcia happened to be arrested during an unrelated, routine traffic stop after he was suspected of driving with a suspended licence.

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According to The Independent, a mugshot of a shirtless Garcia was taken, which showed a very distinctive tattoo covering much of his chest.

The tattoo depicted a man, shaped like a peanut, being shot by a helicopter outside an Ed’s Liquor shop.

The words “Rivera kills” also featured in the ink.

The photo caught the eye of LA County Sheriff’s department investigator Kevin Lloyd, who works in the area of street violence and gang crime.

He then went over unsolved crimes in the city and discovered the case of John Juarez.

The links between the tattoo and the crime were undeniable.

Mr Juarez’s body had fallen in a similar way to the “peanut” in the tattoo.

Garcia’s body art also featured a distinctive street lamp, road sign and Christmas lights — which Det Sgt Lloyd soon learned also matched the scene of the crime.

Garcia was arrested as a result, and while in custody, several officers wearing wires impersonated gang members and struck up a conversation about the tattoo.

Before long, Garcia told them it showed his first slaying, and a jury found the 25-year-old guilty of first-degree murder this week after the recording was played to the court.

But during the trial, other fascinating details about the tattoo also came to light.

According to The Independent, a “peanut” is an insulting term widely used to describe a rival gang member, while the helicopter is a reference to Garcia’s nickname, “Chopper”.

And the original tattoo only showed a fraction of the crime scene, although Garcia added more and more incriminating details over time.

While it may appear Garcia was caught thanks to pure chance, it turns out LA police often take photos of suspects without their shirts on if they suspect they have a tattoo on their torso, as these are often linked to gang activity and can be used as evidence if a witness can describe a perpetrator’s body art.

Still, Det Sgt Lloyd’s brilliant detective work has been praised by his superiors.

“Think about it. He tattooed his confession on his chest. You have a degree of fate with this,” Sheriff’s Captain Mike Parker told the Los Angeles Times.

“Sergeant Kevin Lloyd’s incredible observation of Garcia’s extraordinary tattoo, combined with great investigative work is one of the reasons why sheriff’s homicide investigators are known as The Bulldogs.

“Fate and tenacious police work brought this convicted murderer to justice.”

Garcia will be sentenced in May next year.

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