A story for every victim

Austin Louis Jimenez, 28

Austin Louis Jimenez, a 28-year-old white man, died Friday, Sept. 8, after being shot in the 12800 block of Penn Street in Whittier, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Whittier police responded about 3:15 a.m. to a call regarding a shooting in the area, according to Officer John Scoggins. Once there, police found what appeared to be a crime scene but no shooting victims.

About an hour later, West Covina police were called to an incident nearly 15 miles away. Jimenez and two other men were found inside a Nissan sedan. They had been shot. 

Jimenez was pronounced dead at 4:46 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records. The other men were transported to a hospital and treated for their injuries.

Whittier police linked the two crime scenes and identified Whittier resident Peter Vidal Hernandez, 34, as a suspect. 

Before the shooting, Scoggins said, Jimenez was sitting in the car with two other people when Hernandez approached on foot. Hernandez argued with Jimenez through the car window, police said. As the car pulled away, Hernandez pulled out a gun and fired at the vehicle.

Whittier police arrested Hernandez on Sept. 28 on suspicion of murder. He is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 2. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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