Local News in Brief : Search On for Two Killers

A search by a special weapons and tactics team for a parolee linked to the killing of a 6-year-old girl and her father was called off after an anonymous tip to his whereabouts proved unfounded, police said.

Sheriff’s homicide detectives continued their search Wednesday for the man, who was believed to be armed with a Soviet-style assault rifle, and for the killer of a 16-year-old girl in another, unrelated drive-by shooting Tuesday.

Sheriff Sherman Block said the parolee, George Carter, a reputed gang member, was one of two men suspected of spraying an east Compton home with bullets Sunday night, killing 6-year-old Irma Saucedo and her father, Salvador Saucedo, 39, and wounding three others.

The Lynwood sheriff’s station received an anonymous call at 6 p.m. Tuesday that Carter was seen at a Compton apartment complex, but SWAT team members called off a stakeout about 11:30 p.m. after it was determined that Carter, 27, was not at the location, Deputy Roger Hom said.

In Tuesday’s drive-by shooting, Alejandra Melgoza, 16, was standing with friends on a street corner in suburban Paramount when shots were fired from a passing car.

The girl was friends with gang members, her sister said, adding, “I guess the rest of the gangs knew that my sister was talking to different gangs and wanted to get revenge or something, I don’t know.”