Drive-By Claims the Life of a Hispanic Woman

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, November 27, 2000

"Drive-By Claims the Life of a Hispanic Woman"

Panorama City – On Sunday, November 26, 2000, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Van Nuys Area Community Police Station patrol officers responded to a radio call of an "assault with a deadly weapon" in the 14600 Block of Blythe Street in Panorama City. Upon arrival to the location, responding officers discovered the body of a 32 year-old female Hispanic who had been shot in the upper torso.

According to witnesses, the victim, Magdalena Sandoval, was walking to a nearby store on Blythe Street when a dark-colored car drove-up alongside her and an unknown suspect from within the vehicle began shooting in her direction with an unknown caliber handgun. The woman was struck in the upper body and died shortly thereafter. A group of male Hispanics was standing nearby who may have been the intended targets of the gunfire. Van Nuys Homicide Detectives have not yet determined whether Sandoval was the intended victim of the gunfire, or if she was the victim of gunfire intended for the group nearby. The suspects are described only as four male Hispanics.

Van Nuys Homicide Detectives are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is urged to contact Detectives R. Yep or A. Aldaz at 818-756-8377.

This press release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

For Release 3:30 pm PST
November 27, 2000