One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Trick Contest To Be Held Today In Honor Of Man Killed In Echo Park Over A Skateboard
The skateboard hung up in memory of Carlos Arellano. (Photo by Neil Fitzpatrick via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
A skate contest will be held today in Highland Park in honor of Carlos Arellano, who was killed last month in Echo Park over his skateboard.
The murder, which remains unsolved, occurred on the night of August 16, in the middle of the Echo Park Rising music festival. Arellano and his girlfriend where approached by three men authorities believe to be gang members and witnesses say a conflict arose when Arellano refused to give up his skateboard. The 22-year old man was stabbed and killed. The Los Feliz skate shop Kingswell decided to hold the benefit event today in honor of Arellano, even though they did not know the slain skater nicknamed "Ekeh." "They just decided to do a good farewell," self-described "skater mom" Christine Olson told LA Weekly.
Olson will be helping out at the event to be held this afternoon from noon until 6 p.m. at the Garvanza Skate Park in Highland Park. The event will feature a "best trick" contest, and food, drinks, and raffle tickets will be sold to raise money for Arellano's family, who buried their son last week. The event will be free to attend, but donations are welcome.
For those looking to help out but cannot attend today's event, friends of the family are collecting funds online to benefit Arellano's family.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
