The life of José Leandro Jr., a young man from 12 years, ended abruptly after being shot while leaving from the store on the corner of his house where he went to buy some groceries that he needed. Two days later he died at Saint Francis Hospital in the city of Lynwood.
The incident occurred on Monday, March 7, in the city of Huntington Park, where he lived his entire life. He passed away on Wednesday March shortly before 2 in the morning.
His family needs your donations to bury him. Any help is appreciated. To donate, visit the site: In Loving Memory of José Leandro.
Evelyn Hernández, who was his partner for 7 years, reported that José was wounded around at 7: 30 of the night on the block 2700 on Gage Avenue in Huntington Park.
“We had moved in together for three months. We just rented an apartment in the city of Commerce”.
On the day of the tragedy they had gone to visit José’s parents in Huntington Park, because it was his niece’s birthday, whom he loved a lot.
“That day he had to enter the cardboard paper factory where he worked late. Before we left, he went to the store for some things that we needed at home like toilet paper and some towels.
José and Evelyn were preparing to return home. “He was only going to pick up lunch to go to his work, but before that he wanted to go to the little store that is very close to where his parents live. “On the corner around the corner.”
José’s family and his partner Evelyn were in the house when José called his brother on the phone to tell him that a man wanted to attack him.
“His brother-in-law ran out and we followed him. We arrived at the place. José gave me what he had bought, and then the person who was looking for trouble shot him from his car and fled.”
José received 4 shots that cost him his life.
Evelyn saddened says she doesn’t remember anymore. The only thing she knows is that her brother-in-law had already passed by the place minutes before, and she had noticed that a man was outside the store looking for trouble. But her brother-in-law ignored him and walked on.
Her husband did the same, but the man who was armed shot him.
Evelyn describes his partner as a physically tall man with a large complexion.
“He was very joking and kind. He was always smiling, willing to help. He was a hard worker and had his goals.”
The couple did not yet have children. But Evelyn shares that José’s dream was to get married, start a family, have a girl and buy a house.
His surprise death left her family in grief. He is survived by his parents, originally from Mexico, and his 6 siblings. He was the youngest.
Evelyn said that the family hopes for justice for José.
“I ask everyone to take care of themselves, because right now doing something as simple as going to the store can cost us our lives.”
A survey by the California Public Policy Institute, the results of which were released last month past, threw that 11% of Angelenos who responded, indicated that their greatest concern is the increase in crime.
In 2021, there was an increase of 12% in homicides; and overall, violent crime was up 4%.
According to statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), until February 5, so far this year, were reported 30 kills, against 31 from a year ago in the same period.
That is why all the candidates for mayor of Los Angeles have made the increase in violence one of the priority campaign issues . They are all against defunding the police, and in favor of keeping at least the same number of police as there are now, and filling vacant positions. Other candidates want the LAPD to have up to 11,000 officers.
The Latino community has not escaped the wave of violence that is sweeping Los Angeles.
The most recent case occurred over the weekend when Marcos Sandoval from 52 years old was shot to death while walking with his puppy around 5 in the morning in the Mid-City area.
A sedan car approached him near the corner of Saturn Street and Genesse Avenue, immediately afterwards the driver got out of the car, they exchanged a few words and opened fire before returning to his vehicle and continuing on his way as if nothing had happened.
Marcos died at the scene; and as in the case of José Leandro, the police are looking for the murderer.
Ask for protection
Martha Ofelia Jiménez, a community leader from East Los Angeles, said that we are in a state of crisis and emergency in which they expect protection from the LAPD and the sheriff of Los Angeles, and do not cut the funds of the police and sheriffs.
“Insecurity is very worrying because we have very dangerous areas within the city and the county.”
He added that it is very sad to no longer see police officers around the schools when the children leave class.
“The other day, a homeless person nearly smashed a bottle into my head at a bus stop. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I have very good reflexes and was able to move in time, who knows what would have happened”.
Jiménez urged politicians and officials to show leadership to curb the increase in crime in Los Angeles.
“While this is happening, we have to be very alert, taking care of ourselves”.
Let’s avoid confrontations
In a recent interview with Real America News, Captain Adrián González of the LAPD Homicide Division, said that in general, there is an increase in aggressions in the city, by people who thinks there are no consequences.
“An argument can lead to a murder as we saw in the recent case of a Taco Bell employee who, after an argument with a customer, took his life”.
Captain González, an expert in homicide investigations, said that he does not know what are the causes of so much aggressiveness in the Los Angeles environment, since the pandemic.
“It is a combination of factors, but the recommendation is not to give rise to confrontations. If you are walking down the street and see a person who may represent danger, it is better to cross the street; and the same when we are driving, let another driver get into our lane, because we don’t know what can happen if we start fighting with that person”.
He even regretted that at this time, You can no longer even disagree on political issues and still be friends or family.
“We live in times in which it is no longer possible to speak without agreeing. It is no longer accepted to have different opinions”.