Two Men Shot to Death, Pregnant Woman Injured in North Hollywood

September 12, 2006

Los Angeles: Sunday night two men were shot to death, and a pregnant woman was shot and injured, while they sat in their car in North Hollywood.

On September 10, 2006, around 10:00 PM, officers responded to a shooting call at the 7-11 convenience store in the 7500 block of Lankershim Boulevard. When they arrived, police found three victims lying in the parking lot next to their 1997 BMW.

Joel Cortez Alonso, 19, Alejandro Perez, 19, and Rocio Caliz, 20, were rushed to a local hospital by paramedics from the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

Alonso and Perez died at the hospital, and Caliz, who is 8 months pregnant, was treated for gunshot wounds to her abdomen and right thigh. Both she and her unborn child are expected to survive.

The investigation revealed that the victims had just driven into the parking lot and were still inside their vehicle when a man with a handgun approached them. The suspect fired multiple shots into the car, striking all three victims.

The man with the gun then entered into a tan or silver 1980-1990 compact foreign sedan and fled the scene.

The suspect is a male Hispanic, 18-23 years old, with a shaved head. He was 5’7" to 5’10" tall and had a slight moustache.

The motive for the shooting has not been determined. The victims are not gang members.

Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4016 or 818-623-4075, during normal business hours. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

The identities of callers wishing to remain anonymous shall be protected.