Eddie William Padilla

Eddie William Padilla, seen here in the center, was at the heart of the events that unfolded in 1960 at the Lakewood Moose Lodge. His son, Eddie Padilla Jr., shared this photo with Kustomrama, offering a rare look at his father during a time overshadowed by the violence and tragedy of the car club war. Despite the turmoil, Eddie Padilla was remembered as a man who loved cars and grew up navigating the hardships of gang life in Romana Gardens. His son described his father's deep regret over the incident, which he had never spoken about in detail, and the struggle to reconcile youthful recklessness with the tragic consequences that followed. Photo courtesy of Eddie Padilla Jr.

This is the plaque of The Townsmen of East Long Beach Car Club, featuring their emblematic character dressed in a top hat and holding a cane, a symbol of their club's identity in the Southern California car scene during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Officially established on September 27, 1959, and centered around Millikan High School in Lakewood, California, the Townsmen were known for their modified cars and, unfortunately, gained notoriety following the events of the 1960 Car Club Murder. Photo courtesy of Car Club Plaques.

The 1960 Car Club Murder. On March 28, 1960, a violent car club clash shook Long Beach, California, when members of the Townsmen of East Long Beach Car Club raided a meeting of the Dutchmen of Paramount at the Lakewood Moose Lodge. The attack left 16-year-old Neil Mahan critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head. The event, covered in newspapers like the Independent on March 30, 1960, sent shockwaves through the local community and marked a pivotal moment in the region's car club history. The aftermath of the incident, involving multiple arrests and a high-profile trial, was seen by some as signaling the decline of the car club culture among teenagers in the area. Photo courtesy of the Independent, March 30, 1960.

This preserved newspaper clipping, shared by Eddie Padilla Jr., captures the moment his father, Eddie William Padilla, confessed to his involvement in the 1960 Lakewood Moose Lodge shooting. The headline, "Dad Admits Teen Gang Shooting," serves as a haunting reminder of the tragic event that claimed the life of Neil Mahan. The clipping details Padilla's account of the night he fired the fatal shot, an action he would later deeply regret. This piece of history, saved and shared by his family, provides insight into the legacy of remorse and reflection that followed Padilla and those closest to him. Photo courtesy of Eddie Padilla Jr.

Eddie William Padilla, a figure tied to the notorious 1960 Car Club Murder, played a pivotal role in the tragic series of events that changed car club culture in Long Beach forever. Padilla was a Whittier native who, in his youth, became involved with the Townsmen Car Club of East Long Beach. The incident took place on March 28, 1960, when a confrontation between the Townsmen and the Dutchmen of Paramount escalated into violence, leaving 16-year-old Neil Mahan fatally wounded.

Early Life and Gang Influence

Padilla's early life was shaped by the challenges of growing up in Romana Gardens, a neighborhood in East Los Angeles. According to his son, Eddie Padilla Jr., Eddie Sr. was forced into gang life at a young age in the 1940s. To survive, he had to associate with local gangs like White Fence and El Hoyo Maravilla. His love for cars remained a significant part of his identity, even as he navigated the harsh realities of his upbringing.

The Shooting

During the violent altercation at the Moose Lodge in Lakewood, Eddie Padilla was the one who pulled the trigger. In a confession reported in the Los Angeles Mirror, Padilla admitted to firing the shots that struck Neil Mahan in the head. He claimed it was an attempt to prove himself worthy of joining the Townsmen, and the tragic consequences were something he reportedly never anticipated.

Padilla Jr. shared that his father never spoke about the incident with his family. Most of what Eddie Jr. knows about his father's involvement comes from newspaper clippings and internet research. His grandmother and an aunt confirmed details of the story, including the impact of Eddie Sr.'s actions and his subsequent time in prison.

Legacy and Family Reflections

Eddie Padilla Jr. described his father as a man with deep regrets about his role in the 1960 event. The elder Padilla’s involvement in the shooting was seen as a desperate and misguided attempt to gain acceptance among the Townsmen. The remorse he carried haunted him, even as he tried to move on with his life.

Padilla Sr. had two brothers who also shared his love for cars and were part of car clubs. Tragically, both brothers died young. One perished in a car accident on Whittier or Beverly in the 1950s, and the other in a drag race that ended with his car driving off a cliff near the beach.

Remembering Eddie Padilla

Eddie William Padilla passed away on September 26, 2006, leaving behind a complicated legacy intertwined with the history of car culture and gang life in Los Angeles. His story is a sobering reminder of the era's turbulent times, where car clubs were both a source of brotherhood and, sometimes, tragedy.