Man hospitalized in critical condition after being shot during attempted carjacking in Highland Park

The beloved owner of a popular Highland Park taco stand remains in critical condition after he was shot during an attempted carjacking early Tuesday morning. 

Police say that the incident happened just after midnight as the victim was driving northbound on Figueroa Boulevard. When he came to a stop light at Marmion Way a suspect armed with a gun approached and demanded his vehicle, Los Angeles Police Department detectives say. 

The victim, now identified by friends as 69-year-old Jose Ayala Martinez, refused their demands, at which point the suspect fired three shots, at least one of which struck him. 

After he was shot, the victim fled to the parking lot outside of Food4less, located in the 5000 block of Figueroa Street, where he called police.

He was eventually rushed to a nearby hospital by paramedics where he remains in critical condition, continuing to fight.

"He's a hell of a guy," said William Wolf, a longtime friend of Martinez. "He didn't deserve this."

Wolf visited Martinez on Tuesday in the hospital after he underwent emergency surgery on his jaw, which was struck by gunfire. 

"He opened up his eyes and he heard me and blinked, I told him, 'Don't worry, we'll get through this,'" Wolf told KCAL News. "It ain't right, it ain't right. A hard-working man has to look over his shoulder, it ain't right."

Martinez is known to many as "El Tigre," for the taco stand that he runs in the area on York Boulevard outside of El Super. Wolf says that he had just finished up work for the day and stopped to pick up some items at the store when he was approached by the suspect.

"He could have lost his life, for what, a truck?" Wolf said. "A truck that's worth $2,500, our lives are worth way more than 2,500 bucks."

Wolf's family is helping raise money for Martinez, hopeful that they can help pay his medical expenses. 

"People that know Tigre know that guy is a fighter," he said. "He has a daughter. He has friends. It ain't worth it man, it ain't worth it. It's disgusting."

Officers in the area heard the gunshots and as they arrived, they saw a suspect running east on Marmion Way. He was taken into custody without further incident. Police say that they also recovered a gun. 

Investigators late Tuesday identified the suspect as 19-year-old Byron Lopez. They say that he was one of two suspects who they believe attempted to carjack other people in the area that night, but were also unsuccessful. 

While the second suspect is still outstanding, police say they believe they have the shooter in custody.

No further information was provided.