Murderer Identified Because He Had the Murder Scene Tattooed on His Chest

L.A. County Sheriff homicide investigator Kevin Lloyd noticed the above tattoo when looking through pictures of tattooed gang members. The tattoo caught Lloyd’s attention, due to its detailed depiction of a 2004 liquor store murder scene.

Each key detail was right there: the Christmas lights that lined the roof of the liquor store where 23-year-old John Juarez was gunned down, the direction his body fell, the bowed street lamp across the way and the street sign — all under the chilling banner of RIVERA KILLS, a reference to the gang Rivera-13.

Screaming symbolism that could only be taught in a college literature course, the helicopter shooting down what seems to be Mr. Peanut is a reference to the gang member’s alias, “Chopper,” while the lovable peanut mascot symbolizes a rival gang member, as the term “peanut” is a gang slang term for a rival gang member.

Apparently, the tattooed mural on the chest of Chopper–real name Anthony Garcia–evolved over time, with pictures of him taken at various points since the liquor store murder having new additions inked onto the scene. Now, Chopper probably regrets permanently inking his crime scene confession across his chest.

(Los Angeles Times via Neatorama)