Robbery Reclassified as Murder 7 Years Later

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department detectives reclassified a 2001 Robbery/Attempted Murder case to a Murder.

The victim, Rey Noe Pineda, a 29-year-old resident of Los Angeles, had suffered life threatening injuries at the time of the attack on August 2, 2001.  Mr. Pineda was waiting for a bus when the suspects attacked him with a baseball bat.  The suspects beat the victim until he was unconscious and took his property.  Mr. Pineda spent the next 7 years in and out of hospitals with brain damage and seizures.

Mr. Pineda died from his injuries on February 9, 2008.  The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined that Mr. Pineda died as a direct result of head trauma caused by the baseball bat attack and listed the death as a homicide.

During the original investigation both suspects were identified and warrants for their arrest were issued.  On September 21, 2001, Evelio Carillo, a 23-year-old, known gang member, was arrested and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

The second suspect, 28-year-old Elias Favela, is still at large and wanted by police.  He is described as a male Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes.  He stands 6 feet tall and weighs 175 lbs. Wilshire Homicide Detectives will further the case and seek prosecution for both suspects for the murder of Rey Noe Pineda.

Anyone with information about this case or the whereabouts of suspect #2, Elias Favela, is asked to contact Wilshire Area homicide Detectives John Shafia or Kurt Wong at (213) 473-0446.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-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.