Baby Garcia Murder Suspect Identified City Council Offers $50K Reward as Detectives Seek Public Assistance to Locate Him NR10344kr

July 7, 2010

***UPDATE***

Suspect in Baby Andrew Garcia’s Murder,
 Arrested After 10 Months on the Run

In October 2009, Van Nuys Area homicide detectives obtained a felony arrest warrant for Ricardo Hernandez, 24 years of age, believing he was the person responsible for the shotgun murder of 4-month-old Andrew Garcia. During the month of June 2010, detectives received anonymous information that Ricardo Hernandez was staying in Jalisco, Mexico.  With the help of the Foreign Prosecution Section, Gang and Narcotics Division, detectives enlisted the aid of Mexican authorities to verify the tip. On July 1, 2010, Hernandez’s identity was verified and he was taken into custody in Mexico.  The following day, July 2, 2010, he was deported as an “Undesirable United States Citizen in Mexico.”  Upon his return to the United States, Hernandez was arrested on the outstanding murder warrant.  At about 7 p.m., Friday evening, Hernandez was booked into Van Nuys jail where he was being held without bail.

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Van Nuys Division homicide detectives have identified a suspect in the tragic shooting of 4-month-old Andrew Garcia on Sept. 27, 2009.  Detectives hope a $50,000 reward offered through the Los Angeles City Council will help encourage public assistance in the case.

On Sept. 27, 2009, at around 1 a.m., the infant Garcia was in the company of his mother, father and family friends in the 14300 block of Kittridge Street in Van Nuys.  A family friend was seated in the passenger seat of a vehicle where he was feeding the child.  At the same time, another family friend was standing outside the vehicle when he became involved in a verbal confrontation between the family group and two suspects walking across the street.  Suddenly, one of the suspects fired at the group with a shotgun, striking the baby and two adults.
LAPD detectives have now identified a suspect and obtained a felony arrest warrant charging 23-year-old Ricardo Hernandez with the murder of the 4-month-old child.  Hernandez is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds.  He has a missing or broken upper tooth and acne scars on his face.  He was linked to the crime by both physical evidence and a variety of tips and leads.

Detectives believe the motive for the crime is gang related and that Hernandez is still in the Los Angeles area.  He is also a known street gang member and should be considered armed and dangerous.

On Sept. 28, 2009, the Los Angeles City Council posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Garcia’s murder.  Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact LAPD Van Nuys Division homicide detectives at 818-374-0040.  After-hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.