$50,000 Reward Offered for Unsolved Hollenbeck Murder

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) homicide detectives and Councilmember Jose Huizar are asking for the public’s help in finding the persons responsible for the death of 24-year-old Jesus Guevara.

On August 18, 2007, at 3:15 p.m., Guevara was walking from a liquor store at 3327 N. Eastern Ave. As he was approaching his parked car, the suspect approached in a dark-colored, mid-sized car driving northbound on Eastern Ave. The driver of the suspect vehicle stopped and yelled, “Hey!” at Guevara and fired several rounds striking the victim one time in the back. The suspect continued northbound Eastern Ave to eastbound Navarro.

Guevara was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Guevara served for four years on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He served overseas in 2005 in Thailand and assisted with the tsunami relief effort. After being discharged from active-duty, Guevara remained in the Navy reserves as a petty officer. He was working as a hydraulics engineer at the Shultz Steel Company in South Gate and was a student at East Los Angeles College when his life was cut short. He is survived by his parents, four sisters and brother, uncles, aunts, cousins and godson.

“Don’t let his death go unsolved, because my family feels that there is no explanation for why he is gone,” said Maria Guevara, who is Jesus’ eldest sister. “It’s like a wakeup call. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. We got to stop the crime on the streets.”

At a press conference earlier today, 14th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar announced his sponsorship of a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

“Any murder is tragic, but when you think that Jesus Guevara served his country honorably, came home, enrolled in college, had a job and then was brutally murdered, it is just sickening,” said Councilmember Huizar. “That’s why I introduced the motion to offer this $50,000 reward. I’m hoping it will help jar some memories and motivate people to do the right thing and get this murderer off our streets.”

The public’s assistance is requested in solving this murder. If anyone has information concerning this incident, please contact Hollenbeck Homicide Detective Jake Dugger at 323 526-3142 or Detective Araceli Negrete at 323-526-3091. Afterhours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour toll free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).