Dispute Ends In Shooting Death

Los Angeles: Rampart Homicide Detectives are investigating the shooting death of 25 year-old Valentin Rangel.
On August 29, 2003, at about 8:55 p.m., Rampart Patrol Officers responded to a radio call, " Shots Fired" in the 700 block of Vendome Street. When the officers arrived, they located Rangel lying in the street in front of the location suffering from gunshot wounds.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced Rangel dead at scene.
The initial investigation revealed that a dispute developed between Rangel and two unidentified male Hispanic suspects. During the dispute, one of the suspects took out a handgun and shot Rangel. The suspects then got into a white mini van that was parked to the rear of location. While leaving the scene the suspect’s vehicle collided with two other vehicles that were parked in the same parking lot.
Rampart Patrol Officers located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle parked approximately five blocks away. The vehicle was discovered to be a stolen vehicle and had traffic collision damage that was consistent with the parked vehicles. The vehicle was impounded for further investigation.
The suspects are described as male Hispanics, 18 to 25 years of age and about 6 feet tall.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Rampart Homicide Detectives at 213-207-2000. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Lucy Diaz, 213-485-3586, Media Relations Section.