Murder-Suicide-Murder Culminates in Freeway Traffic Jam

" Murder-Suicide-Murder Culminates in Freeway Traffic Jam"
 
Los Angeles: On Friday, December 21, 2001, at approximately 2:00 p.m., 77th Street Area Community Police Officers responded to a call of a domestic violence involving gunfire in the 600 block of W. 45th Street in Los Angeles.
Upon their arrival, officers found the lifeless body of 27 year-old, Alejandra Hernandez who had been fatally shot by her estranged husband Osmin Ernest Bonilla. A relative placing the original 911 call stated Bonilla shot Hernandez in the driveway before fleeing in his green Ford Explorer and was possibly en route to a family home in Pasadena. Responding paramedics pronounced Hernandez dead and a homicide crime scene was established. The Pasadena Police Department was notified of the circumstances and the family home indicated was placed under police surveillance for the possible capture of Osmin Bonilla.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., one half hour after the initial murder, 77th Street officers received a second call of a man having fallen over the westbound overpass of the 105 Freeway onto flowing southbound traffic of the 110 Freeway. At first, no connection was made with the Hernandez murder. At scene, it was discovered that the fallen man was in fact Bonilla who had parked his Explorer nearby before committing suicide. Bonilla apparently shot himself before falling over the freeway overpass rail and onto the 110 Freeway traffic travelling below.
Tragically, during his descent, Bonilla struck a vehicle in the far right lane traveling southbound on the 110 Freeway. The impact of Bonilla’s body crushed the roof of the southbound car which struck then passengers inside the car. It was thereafter determined that the driver of the car, Sandra Dwyer, 32 years, was killed by the impact of the roof coming down around her. Dwyer died shortly thereafter and was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger in Dwyer’s car, Terry Gray (early 30’s) suffered only minor injuries and was later treated and released by hospital personnel.
77th Street Operations Support Division Homicide Detectives are investigating these incidents. Anyone with information should contact Detective Lemos from the 77th Street Homicide Unit at 213-485-6991 during business hours. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24 hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.