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.
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