Los Angeles: On April 25, 2002, at approximately 9:10 p.m., three North Hollywood Area Hispanic males were purchasing gasoline and cigarettes at a gas station located on the 11000 block of Roscoe Boulevard. As the men were buying the fuel for their truck, a late model sedan slowly drove through the gas pump area and then proceeded to return to the front entrance on Roscoe Boulevard.

The three male victims climbed back into their 1994 Chevrolet Suburban and attempted to leave the gas station by exiting through the Roscoe Boulevard entrance. Waiting for the SUV and its occupants, the sedan, with five males inside, blocked the driveway and lowered its windows. Gunfire erupted and the three men dove for cover inside the truck.

Seated in the rear of the vehicle, 18 year-old Jose "Alex" Alejandro Padilla of North Hollywood was shot in the head and died two days later at Holy Cross Hospital. The two other victims suffered minor injuries and were released from Northridge Hospital.

Prior to the shooting, the victims and an image of the suspect’s vehicle was captured on videotape by the gas station’s security camera. North Hollywood Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the killers who murdered Padilla, the father of a one-year-old child. A copy of the videotape is available to the media by contacting the Los Angeles Police Department, Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586, 150 North Los Angeles Street, Room 626.

Anyone with information is asked to call the North Hollywood Area Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4075. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

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