Hector Jesus Rios, 18

Hector Jesus Rios, an 18-year-old Latino, died Sunday, Feb. 14 after he was shot at Broadway and Reichling Lane in the West Whittier-Los Nietos area, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Rios, a resident of Fullerton, was riding in a car heading east on Reichling Lane when someone opened fire on the vehicle at about 1:08 a.m., said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez. 

The bullets struck Rios and the driver of the car, a 19-year-old Santa Ana resident, said Hernandez. The driver jumped out of the car, which continued rolling until it collided with a light pole at the southeast corner of Reichling and Broadway, in front of the Sorenson Library.

The driver ran to a house a few doors away from the scene and asked for help, Hernandez said. In the meantime, deputies who received 911 calls about the incident found Rios inside the crashed car with multiple gunshot wounds, Hernandez said. 

Rios was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:26 a.m., according to coroner’s records. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, Hernandez said.

Investigators don't know why the two men were in the residential neighborhood, Hernandez said on Feb. 22. The driver “is still recovering from his wounds so we haven’t talked to him yet,” he said. 

No one has reported seeing the shooting, Hernandez said. Investigators believe the shooter or shooters were in another vehicle. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.