Los Angeles Times crime reporter Jill Leovy pointed out in her book Ghettoside that while many Southern California homicides can be attributed to the illegal drug trade, a large fraction stem from pettier causes:
But insults, snitching, drunken antics, and the classic “unwanted party guests” also were common homicide motives.
From the Daily Mail:
Joe Melgoza, 30, was beaten to death in Chino, California, early Sunday, just hours after marrying his fiancee
Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his 19-year-old brother, Josue Castaneda Ramirez, have been charged with murder
Police say the brothers did not know the groom but lived near the wedding reception venue and arrived without an invitation
Melgoza’s brother says the groom confronted the wedding crashers after they got into a fight with some guests
Castaneda Ramirez brothers allegedly left, then returned with baseball bats and [attacked] Melgoza on a neighboring property
Melgoza leaves behind his newlywed wife and his 11-year-old daughter, of whom he had full custody
By SNEJANA FARBEROV FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:52 EST, 17 December 2019 | UPDATED: 17:01 EST, 17 December 2019