Police Wednesday released two images of a possible suspect and suspect vehicle in connection with last month's slaying of an 18-year-old Long Beach man.
Jonathan Cordova was walking with a friend, also 18, in the area of 15th Street and Stanley Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 30 when they were gunned down by an unknown shooter.
Cordova was hit in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene while his friend, who was shot in the lower body, survived, police said.
Investigators said in February the attack may have been gang-related and that witnesses described the suspect as a male Hispanic last seen running away east on 15th Street.
Friends and neighbors of the victim said Cordova lived in the area with his mother and four siblings and they did not believe he was in a gang.
"Sometimes people judge you because of the clothes you wear," said 17-year-old Eddie Pacheco, who attended a local continuation high school with Cordova. "I think he was just in the wrong place."
Police have been working on the case since the shooting and decided Wednesday to release two images, both taken from security camera footage in the neighborhood, in the hope that someone might recognize the man or the vehicle in the pictures.
They show a white compact early 2000 model Toyota with missing hubcaps in one photo and a male walking down the street in the other photo just before the murder occurred, Zapalski said.
Detectives have sent the video out for forensic analysis in an effort to enhance the footage, but it is a lengthy process, the sergeant said.
In the mean time police released the photos in their original state.
"They're not the best pictures, but we believe that someone who knows the man will recognize him," said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Officers plan on canvasing the neighborhood this afternoon with the photos to see if there are any witnesses who can help identify the possible suspect and the vehicle, the sergeant added.
Anyone with information about the slaying is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch or Donald Goodman at 562-570-7244.
Jonathan Cordova was walking with a friend, also 18, in the area of 15th Street and Stanley Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 30 when they were gunned down by an unknown shooter.
Cordova was hit in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene while his friend, who was shot in the lower body, survived, police said.
Investigators said in February the attack may have been gang-related and that witnesses described the suspect as a male Hispanic last seen running away east on 15th Street.
Friends and neighbors of the victim said Cordova lived in the area with his mother and four siblings and they did not believe he was in a gang.
"Sometimes people judge you because of the clothes you wear," said 17-year-old Eddie Pacheco, who attended a local continuation high school with Cordova. "I think he was just in the wrong place."
Police have been working on the case since the shooting and decided Wednesday to release two images, both taken from security camera footage in the neighborhood, in the hope that someone might recognize the man or the vehicle in the pictures.
They show a white compact early 2000 model Toyota with missing hubcaps in one photo and a male walking down the street in the other photo just before the murder occurred, Zapalski said.
Detectives have sent the video out for forensic analysis in an effort to enhance the footage, but it is a lengthy process, the sergeant said.
In the mean time police released the photos in their original state.
"They're not the best pictures, but we believe that someone who knows the man will recognize him," said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Officers plan on canvasing the neighborhood this afternoon with the photos to see if there are any witnesses who can help identify the possible suspect and the vehicle, the sergeant added.
Anyone with information about the slaying is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch or Donald Goodman at 562-570-7244.
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