5 Suspects Arrested in Torrance Murder Plot

Torrance police have arrested five suspects in the Friday morning stabbing death of a Torrance man, authorities said. Gary Jose Alderete, 21, of Torrance, had gotten into an argument earlier in the week with the victim, William Smith, 39, who died of multiple stab wounds, said Police Lt. Harold Maestri.

Alderete was arrested Friday by California Highway Patrol officers who saw him running along the freeway near the crime scene in the 3900 block of West 171st Street, he said.

Maestri said four others were arrested Friday night and early Saturday and booked on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. They were: Michael Grace, 21, of Carson; his brother, Richard Grace, 23, of Gardena; Stacy James, 20, of Torrance, and Alexander Frederick, 22, of Gardena. They allegedly plotted Smith’s murder and two drove Alderete to the victim’s home that morning, police said. They were being held without bail.