A story for every victim

Jesus Estevez Martinez, 27

Jesus Estevez Martinez, a 27-year-old Latino, died from gunshot wounds on Sunday, Sept. 3, in the 10100 block of Firmona Avenue at the border of Inglewood and Lennox, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s office. 

Estevez Martinez was a carjack victim, one of three people killed that evening during a shooting rampage that began in the home of Roberto Saucedo in the West Los Angeles community of Del Rey. 

Saucedo, a 67-year-old Latino, was home about 6 p.m. with his girlfriend and his adult son, Juan Saucedo, 36, who also lived in the house, said Los Angeles Police West Bureau Homicide Lt. John Radtke. 

Police were called to the residence at 6:18 p.m. regarding a shooting in progress, and discovered Roberto Saucedo injured and unresponsive, Radtke said. 

Roberto Saucedo was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:51 p.m. from gunshot wounds to the head and chest, according to coroner’s records. 

His girlfriend had also been shot once, in the face, Radtke said. She was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. Authorities believe Juan Saucedo, a documented gang member, shot the two after an argument.

Witnesses said Juan Saucedo ran from the house around the corner to the 11700 block of Culver Boulevard, where Estevez Martinez was parking his car to attend a family gathering, Radtke said. 

Saucedo ran up to Estevez Martinez’s black, 2014 Camaro, pulled out his gun and rapped it on the window, Radtke said. 

As the victim's family members watched from the yard, Saucedo got into the passenger side of Estevez Martinez’s car and ordered him, at gunpoint, to drive away, Radtke said. They were last seen driving east on Culver Boulevard. 

Estevez Martinez’s family members called 911, but police couldn’t find the car, Radtke said. In the meantime, the Camaro drove about seven miles east and south to Lennox, a community adjacent to Inglewood patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

Deputies were called to the 10100 block of Firmona Avenue about 6:38 p.m. regarding a gunshot victim. There they found Estevez Martinez unresponsive inside his car, with a gunshot wound, said sheriff’s Lt. Rodney Moore. 

Estevez Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:09 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the head

Deputies learned that the shooter ran to the 10600 block of Mansel Avenue, Moore said, where investigators believe he shot another man, Arturo Pulido, a 47-year-old Latino, in a garage. 

Pulido lived in Inglewood. Investigators don’t know why he was in the garage, or why he was shot, Moore said. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:46 p.m., according to coroner’s records. Pulido’s cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds.  

Saucedo then ran to the 10400 block of Mansel Avenue, where he tried to carjack another car, Moore said. 

He shot the driver of that car and was trying to get inside when deputies arrested him without incident, Moore said. 

Moore said Saucedo had a handgun when he was arrested. He refused to comment on whether the gun still had any ammunition. 

The driver was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive, Moore said. 

Juan Saucedo was arrested that evening and charged Sept. 6 with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling, according to court records. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 10 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Inglewood courthouse. 

Investigators are trying to understand what set off the shooting rampage, Radtke said.

“All we know is that it started with an argument, which is classic for family violence,” Radtke said. “We know our suspect is a gang member, although obviously killing his father did not have anything to do with a gang. And then he hijacked that poor, poor man on Culver Boulevard to escape the area.”

Moore said Saucedo has not been talking, so sheriff’s investigators are still trying to understand why he shot Pulido. 

The shooting rampage is being investigated by two agencies. Anyone with information about the shooting of Estevez Martinez or Pulido is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. People with information about the Roberto Saucedo shooting should call the LAPD's West Bureau Homicide office at 213-382-9470. 

Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.   

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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