BALDWIN PARK — The fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Baldwin Park man last week is believed to have been the result of a car-to-car shootout between rival gang members, a detective said Friday.
Guillermo Reyes died at a hospital shortly after being shot in the head while driving a car just after 10 p.m. June 25 on Center Avenue, just south of Los Angeles Street, coroner’s officials said.
His passenger, 21-year-old Jamie Martinez of Baldwin Park, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded handgun and auto theft, said Detective Ferguson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, who declined to give his first name.
Investigators suspect the gunfire traveled in both directions between the cars.
“It appeared to be a shootout,” he said.
The car the two men were riding in had been reported stolen recently in the San Gabriel Valley, he said, and investigators recovered a loaded and recently-fired handgun.
Following the shooting, Martinez <NO1>reached over from the passenger side of the car to take <NO>took control of the vehicle and drove his wounded companion to the hospital, Ferguson said.
The detective described both men as known, documented gang members.
The attacker or attackers, who pulled up alongside Reyes and Martinez before the gun battle, were believed to be members of a rival gang, Ferguson said.
“We gave some good leads we’re following up,” he added.
Martinez pleaded not guilty June 28 to felony charges of carrying a loaded and unregistered handgun, carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony and auto theft, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said. Prosecutors also made the special allegation the auto theft was done for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and that the charges are felonies requiring prison time if convicted.
He was due back in West Covina Superior Court July 12 for a prelminary hearing, Gibbons said.
According to county booking records, he was being held in lieu of $145,000 at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
