Los Angeles: On Saturday, June 22, 2002, at 3:15 A.M., West Valley patrol officers responded to a "Death Investigation" radio call at the 6600 block of Etiwanda Avenue, in Reseda. Upon arrival the officers were directed to the parking lot of the shopping center located at Vanowen Street and Etiwanda Avenue, where the body of a male Hispanic was found partly concealed in the bushes.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the location and pronounced the victim dead from gunshot wounds to his back.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 1:45 A.M., the victim was alone in the parking lot when a car with two individuals approached. The passenger in that vehicle, armed with a handgun, fired multiple shots at the victim before fleeing. The Los Angeles Police Department received an anonymous call at that time of shots being heard in that general area, however the officers who responded did not see any evidence of a shooting.

At approximately 3:15 A.M., the witness who called the police for the "Death Investigation" looked out his bedroom window and saw what appeared to by a body lying in the bushes. The witness identified the body as that of his half brother, 20 year-old, Victor Manuel Gutierrez.

Although the victim was not associated with gangs, the suspects are believed to be gang members and the incident is being investigated as a gang related crime.

West Valley Homicide Detectives Dave Szabo and Andy Purdy are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is urged to call West Valley Detectives at 818-756-8546. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detectives Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section , 213-485-3586.