The Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward Tuesday in hopes of tracking down the killer who shot a 39-year-old Willowbrook father of four on his birthday, and renewed a $20,000 reward in a deadly shooting and robbery in Lancaster.
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas recommended the $10,000 reward in the killing of Ramiro Lepe, who was gunned down on Aug. 5 while celebrating with family members in front of his home in the 2600 block of East 129th Street.
“What should have been a commemorative day for him and his loved ones turned into a senseless tragedy,” Ridley-Thomas said. “He is survived by his wife of 16 years and his four children.”
Three young men got out of a dark-colored, faded 1990s model four-door compact car and one opened fire on Lepe with a handgun before jumping back into the vehicle, which sped off westbound on 129th Street, Ridley-Thomas said.
Lepe was pronounced dead in the emergency room of St. Francis Medical Center.
Detectives believe there are witnesses that may have seen the suspects or know their identities, according to Ridley-Thomas.
Anyone with information was asked to call sheriff’s Sgt. Shannon Laren or Sgt. Robert Martindale at (323) 890-5500.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger recommended extending a reward for information on the killer of Thomas Gray, who was shot June 16 during a robbery at an apartment complex in the 1600 block of Cactus Drive. Set to expire Dec. 26, the reward will now be available for at least another 90 days.
Gray died of his injuries at Antelope Valley Hospital two days after the shooting.
Another man, Jamal Smith, was also injured in the attack. Smith opened his door to the gunman, who pointed the weapon at his head.
Smith wrestled with the assailant and sustained a cut to his head that sent him to the hospital, but told detectives he was unable to describe the suspect, who had an accomplice.
“His memory is limited to when he opened the front door and was confronted by a person pointing a gun at his head,” according to Barger’s motion.
Deputies said an undisclosed amount of cash was taken by the two suspects. Anyone with information about their identities was asked to call sheriff’s homicide Detectives David Gunner or Frederick Morse at (323) 890- 5500.
–City News Service
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