Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images
In the midst of uncertainty and fear for their future, a couple of Hispanic taqueros survived a violent assault suffered by the 30 March in South Los Angeles and that it almost cost them life for less than $100 dollars.
After overcoming the pandemic crisis for the last two years, Virginio Galeno and Pili Valadés tried to get ahead with their Tacos Puebla food truck, which they managed to buy after several years of hard work.
However, early in the morning of 30 of March, an assailant, described by them as a Hispanic approximately 25 years, he was about to take their lives.
The owners of Tacos Pueblas now cannot work as before and live with the anguish of crossing paths with the subject who almost killed them.https://t.co/o6yRnhVtP6
— Univision LA (@Univision34LA) April 20, 2022
According to reports, the incident occurred at the intersection of 28th Street and Main Street, in Historic South Central.
Pili was the first attacked, who was terrified when she saw an armed individual who demanded her delivery of the money when she was cleaning the area after working all night.
“Give me the money,” the Hispanic woman told the Univisión network.
The merchant had just under $ 100 dollars in cash , and in a few seconds the individual attacked her and hit her on the head with the firearm.
Later, the assailant went to Virgilio, who also demanded the delivery of money, but since he did not find what he wanted, he shot him .
The Hispanic was injured in the back of the head by a shot and the bullet fractured his jaw. The projectile remains in his body.
Officers from the Newton Division attended the scene , from the Los Angeles Police Department, who responded to the emergency call for the attack.
The immigrant was taken to a hospital and due to his injuries he remained unconscious for several days in an intensive care unit . When he woke up, Virgilio received the news that the projectile was lodged in a very sensitive area of his head.
Almost three weeks after the aggression, Galen is still suffering from the aftermath of the attack. He needs to walk with the help of a walker and lives with the anguish of not knowing when he will be able to have surgery and with the uncertainty of his family’s future
, so a GoFundMe page was created to request help.
Security for street vendors
After the attack suffered by the Hispanic taqueros, the Union Popular de Vendors organized itself to create a “security and defense” mechanism for street vendors.
“The idea is not only to protect our vendors, but also customers,” said union spokesman Juan Rodríguez, to the Univisión network.
Among the preventive actions that have been proposed to monitor the safety of vendors, are the recommendations of install businesses near other merchants, work in lighted areas and with traffic , do not resist in case of being robbed, carry and use a whistle and establish a communication plan in case of emergency.
To contact the Popular Union of Vendors, you can call 213-213-5685.
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