Man Accused Of Fatally Shooting Acquaintance On North Hills Street
LICOLN HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — Authorities have announced the arrest of a 24-year-old man in the shooting death of an acquaintance last month in North Hills.
Gustavo Steve Sanchez Jr. was arrested Thursday morning in the death of Esli Garay, 22. Officials said the two men were acquaintances for at least two years and hung out together.
The killing occurred on Oct. 12 in North Hills.
Witnesses said the victim was shot by the passenger of a Gold SUV as Garay got out of that same car. The victim died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
"Through process of elimination, detectives discovered a friend with whom Garay had partied the night before," said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division. "It seems Sanchez may have suffered a personal affront by Garay that led Sanchez to kill."
The victim lived in Burbank, where the two had hung out the night before the killing, and Sanchez lived in Lincoln Heights with a girlfriend.
Detectives developed leads and got arrest warrants for Sanchez and his girlfriend. The unidentified girlfriend was also detained but later released.
The gun used in the killing has not been found.
"Interestingly, Sanchez has a short criminal history with so-called nonviolent crimes," Vernon added. "This jump to murder is another example that there is no such thing as a nonviolent criminal. For criminals, the potential for violence is always present."
Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call detective Ryan Verna, Mission Homicide Unit, (818) 838-9976.
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