Shooting victim remembered as family man

WHITTIER — Authorities Sunday released the name of a local man who was killed in a shooting over the weekend, as neighbors remembered the victim as a devoted father of four with another child on the way.
Danny Quijada, 30, died at the scene of the attack, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
“He was all about his family,” said neighbor Robert Jimenez. “He put his family first.”
Family members of Quijada could not be reached for comment Sunday.

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The shooting was reported about 5:30 p.m. in front of an apartment building in the 6300 block of Milton Avenue, Whittier police Lt. Bill Webster said.
Quijada was standing out front of the apartment building where neighbors said he lived with his family when he was approached by an attacker initially described only as a Latino man with short black hair and a baseball cap who had the appearance of a gang member, Webster said.
Area residents said they heard three loud shots.
The shooter is believed to have run to an alley west of Milton Avenue and fled in a dark grey Toyota Camry, Webster said. It was not clear if there was a getaway driver, or if the shooter drove himself away from the scene.
Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said Quijada did not appear to be involved with gangs.
A motive in the shooting was not available.
Some residents said the broad daylight shooting left them nervous.
“There’s always kids out there playing,” neighbor Cynthia Gamez said as she gestured toward the shooting scene.

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Quijada loved cars and spent a lot of time cleaning his Cadillac, neighbors said. He was also known in the neighborhood for listening to oldies music.
Mary Wells was one Quijada’s favorite singers, Jimenez said. “Sometimes I thought that was the only CD he ever had.”
Jimenez added that Quijada was very friendly.
“I never saw him in a bad mood,” he said.
Though Quijada was not employed at the time of his death, Jimenez said he worked in construction and had helped build Whittier’s Greenway Trail.
A memorial of candles, Bud Light bottles, flowers and a crucifix marked the scene of the shooting Sunday.
The shooting remains under investigation, police said, and anyone with information is asked to call with Whittier police tip line at (562) 945-8213.

PHOTOS: Top – A crime scene photographer examines the scene of the shooting late Saturday. Bottom – A memorial of candles, Bud Light bottles, flowers and a crucifix stood at the scene of the slaying Sunday.

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