Store Owner Shot to Death in Apparent Robbery NR133231pv

UPDATE

Do You Recognize this Shooter?

Los Angeles:  Detectives have released an image of the shooter who killed Nester Hernandez as he closed up his business on Woodman Avenue last Monday night.

“It’s apparent the shooter appears suddenly from the victim’s right,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “There’s no real confrontation, just an immediate assault.  It’s deliberate, premeditated and tends to show it’s a grudge.”

The 34-year-old store owner was shot four times and died at the scene.

The suspect was wearing an over-sized white jersey and a white baseball cap with a dark brim.  Witnesses said he appeared to be Hispanic and in his thirties.  The video clearly shows him firing a shotgun.

Police did not release the video out of respect to the victim’s family.  “Suffice to say, the shooting is graphic and disturbing.  This is the best image we have of the suspect,” Lt. Vernon explained.  Police hope that anyone who knows this suspect personally will recognize him from the image.

Detectives also released a second image of a woman seen entering the tattoo shop immediately following the shooting.  They believe she is the nearest eyewitness to the shooting and would like to talk to her.

Los Angeles:  Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of the 34-year-old owner of a wireless phone store on Woodman Avenue.  Around 8:40 PM, July 8, witnesses reported seeing a heavy-set man confronting the victim on the sidewalk in front of the store front.

“Another bystander flagged a passing fire truck to help a man who was apparently shot,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “9-1-1 received several other calls of witnesses reporting the shooting in the 8900 block of Woodman Avenue..”

Firefighters and police found the victim shot multiple times, lying on the sidewalk, just feet from his business.  It appeared he was closing the business when the confrontation that led to his death occurred.  The man died at the scene, and a woman later arrived, who claimed to be his wife, and confirmed him as the store owner since February.

“We’re asking anyone with information to come forward to help us solve this case quickly,” Lt. Vernon said.  “Right now, this appears to be a robbery, but we’ll have to look deeper to know for sure.  What we can count on, though, is people talk, and we need anyone with information to step up so we can solve this for this man’s wife.”

Witnesses described the suspect as a heavy-set Hispanic man, wearing a white shirt and carrying a gun.  Detectives recovered several cartridges from the gun at the crime scene.  The suspect was last seen running south on Woodman Avenue for quite a distance.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9948.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.