Paroled Killer Held In Shooting Of Child Girl Was Riding In Car Riddled With Bullets By Gang Members

A paroled killer was arrested Thursday in the slaying of a 3-year-old girl who was shot when the car she was riding in took a wrong turn onto a dead-end known as the “Avenue of the Assassins.”

Vincent Caldera, 23, was arrested late Wednesday and his home near the shooting scene was searched early Thursday.

He was booked for investigation of murder and attempted murder and held without bail.

Authorities implored the public to overcome fears of Caldera’s street gang, the Avenues, and help identify three or four other young men believed involved.”This is intolerable,” said Mayor Richard Riordan. “Angelenos must simply not accept living in fear as part of their lives.”The toddler, Stephanie Kuhen, was one of six people in a Ford Thunderbird early Sunday when driver Tim Stone strayed onto the dead-end street in the Cypress Park neighborhood northeast of downtown.

Unprovoked, suspected gang members encircled the car and opened fire before Stone got it turned around and drove off.

Stone and Stephanie’s brother, 2-year-old Joseph, were wounded. Joseph was released from a hospital Wednesday with a leg wound.

“I’m moving - period,” said Stephanie’s mother, 26-year-old Robynn Kuhen, who was in the car but wasn’t injured.

Caldera was believed to be one of those who had fired shots, Police Chief Willie Williams said. Prosecutors were to review the case Monday and decide whether to file charges, district attorney’s spokesman Sandi Gibbons said.

“Mr. Caldera is viewed in the community as one of the most vicious and vile members of the Avenues gang,” Williams said. “Hopefully, he won’t be able to negotiate his way down to a manslaughter and parole this time.”

Caldera served three years for manslaughter on a plea bargain in another murder, Williams said. He described Caldera as a “soldier” in the Mexican Mafia, a far-flung, prison-based gang, as well as a street gang member.Along Isabel Drive, where Stephanie was shot and Caldera lives, graffiti written in Spanish marks the territory as the “Avenue of the Assassins.”

Caldera’s girlfriend, 17-year-old Nora Carrillo, denied he had anything to do with the shooting.

“We were out of town when all of this happened, and they’re trying to say he killed this little girl,” said Carrillo, who is pregnant with Caldera’s baby.

She said they had left Friday night for Watsonville in Northern California, returning Monday night. She said she has receipts and will soon have pictures to prove her story.