$50,000 Reward Offer for Man Shot and Killed

Los Angeles: Councilman Ed Reyes and the Los Angeles Police Department have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects who shot and killed a 26-year-old Highland Park man on March 11, 2008.

At about 8:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of North Avenue 53 in Highland Park on reports of a shooting .  Freddy Carranza, who was not a gang member, was found lying on the second-floor breezeway of an apartment complex, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest.  Paramedics who arrived shortly thereafter, pronounced the victim dead.

Carranza had just returned from the movies and stopped by to visit friends.  While he was talking to friends under a covered breezeway, a gunman along with three other men in a small black compact vehicle drove by, fired a shot, striking Carranza.

The suspects are described only as male Hispanics, approximately 18-21 years of age and possible gang members, drove away from the scene.

The circumstances of the shooting are still being investigated.

Several people, who have yet to come forward, witnessed the shooting, and investigators are hoping to speak with them to help solve the murder.

Anyone with information about this murder is asked to contact Northeast Division homicide detectives at 213-847-4261.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, www.lapdonline.org.  All tips may remain anonymous.