Suspect Sketch Released In El Monte Murder
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Detectives on Friday released a composite drawing of a "person of interest" who may be a witness or otherwise linked to the slaying of a car-racing champion and businessman who was gunned down in his auto repair shop in El Monte.
Hector Urias was found dead on the morning of Sept. 8 inside his business in the 3500 block of Santa Anita Avenue. He was expected to play basketball in a community league at 9 that night, but never showed up for the game, Deputy Aura Sierra said.
Family members grew concerned when he did not make it home that evening, and went looking for him, discovering his body just before dawn when they checked the shop, Sierra said.
Urias was last seen alive by one of his employees, who left work about 7 the night of Sept. 7.
Detectives learned that gunshots were heard near the shop shortly after 7 p.m. that day, but the shots were not immediately reported to authorities.
Recently, detectives also located a witness who reporting seeing a man walking through the parking lot of the business shortly after it closed that night.
A sheriff's sketch artist produced a composite of the man, based on the witness' report.
"Sheriff's investigators are considering this man a person of interest, and are asking the public's assistance in identifying him," Sierra said.
The victim specialized in racing Volkswagen Beetles, and was active in the racing community and in local youth programs.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, (323) 890-5500.
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