A store owner in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood was closing up with his wife when a man in a car parked next to the store shot him, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, police said Thursday.
There is currently a $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of a suspect in the April 6 shooting.
The LAPD announced the reward at a press conference Thursday morning and released photos of two people they are considering as suspects – potential witnesses to the shooting. The LAPD also released surveillance camera images showing the car at the scene of the shooting and a description of the vehicle.
“This is a call to action,” said Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Manny Chavez, “Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a dangerous suspect who shot and killed and paralyzed an innocent community member.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has seen surveillance footage of two people they believe to be suspects or witnesses to a shooting that left a man paralyzed in the Westlake neighborhood. Police say the car seen in the footage is believed to be the vehicle that was shot at. Los Angeles Police Department
The victim was closing up his business along the 700 block of South Alvarado Street, just outside MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, at approximately 8:45 p.m. when he noticed two cars illegally parked next to his business. Police said a woman was arguing with another woman in a car parked next to the victim’s car.
He had three young children in the car and decided to approach the vehicle or try to move it to make sure the children were safe, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said he did not know the two women or anyone who may have been in the other car.
He walked between two vehicles from behind and stood in the back seat of the suspected shooter’s vehicle, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Christian Marroquin, but police said he did not exchange words with the shooter.
“Then the backseat window rolled down and at that moment he realized the gun was pointed at him,” Marroquin said.
Marroquin said the victim tried to run when he saw the gun being pointed at him.
“At that moment, he was fearful for his safety, for the safety of his life, for the safety of his children. He thought he was going to be caught in a crossfire,” Marroquin said. “So he started to walk toward the sidewalk, and as soon as he turned his back to the suspect’s vehicle, he was shot in the hip area.”
The victim was shot in the abdomen, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. The gunshot wound leaves him paralyzed from the waist down.
Marroquin said he was shot from just 10 to 15 feet away.
The victim did not see anything, so it is unclear who fired the shots or where the bullets came from.
“He didn’t see if there was someone in the back seat pointing a gun or if he was the driver,” Marroquin said. “He was focused on the handgun itself.”
Los Angeles Police officers said the victim suddenly realized he had been shot as he began to walk away.
“As he was walking towards the sidewalk he heard a gunshot, felt a burning sensation and collapsed to the sidewalk, where his wife and a nearby witness called 911,” Marroquin said.
LAPD described the shooter’s vehicle as a silver, four-door Toyota Camry, believed to be a 2008 to 2015 model, with tinted windows and a sunroof. The vehicle had two dents on the passenger side, one on the front edge near the headlight and one near the rear passenger side window.
Detectives believe a man and woman seen in surveillance footage released by the LAPD were in the area at the time of the incident, and police are hoping to speak with them to see if they can provide any information.
The LAPD said Los Angeles City Council Member Eunice Hernandez, whose district includes the area where the shooting occurred, funded the $25,000 reward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Marroquin at 213-484-3651. Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit LACrimeStoppers.org. You may also text TIPLA and your tip information to 274673 (CRIMES).
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Marissa Wentzke