A story for every victim

Arturo Pulido, 47

Arturo Pulido, a 47-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, Sept. 3, in the 10600 block of Mansel Avenue in Lennox, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Pulido, of Inglewood, was the last of three people killed that evening during a shooting rampage that began in the West Los Angeles community of Del Rey.  He was shot to death in a garage.

Robert Saucedo was the first victim in what authorities say was the rampage of his son, Juan Saucedo, 36. Roberto Saucedo, a 67-year-old Latino, was home about 6 p.m. with his girlfriend and Juan Saucedo, 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 found Roberto Saucedo, who had been shot, unresponsive, Radtke said. 

Roberto Saucedo was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:51 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as gunshot wounds to the head and chest. 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.

Witnesses said Juan Saucedo ran around the corner to the 11700 block of Culver Boulevard, where 27-year-old Jesus Estevez Martinez was parking his car at a family gathering, Radtke said. 

Juan Saucedo ran up to Estevez Martinez’s black Camaro and rapped his gun against the window, Radtke said. 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 headed 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. They found Estevez Martinez, who had been shot in the head, in his car, said sheriff’s Lt. Rodney Moore. Estevez Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:09 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

While deputies were investigating that shooting they learned that the attacker had run about a block and a half south to the 10600 block of Mansel Avenue, Moore said, where investigators believe he shot Pulido in a garage. 

Pulido lived in Inglewood. Investigators don’t know why he was in the garage, or why he was shot by Saucedo, 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 about 100 yards north, to the 10400 block of Mansel Avenue, where he tried to carjack another car, Moore said. 

He shot the driver and was trying to get into the car 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.

Share a memory or thought about Arturo Pulido

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

  Required
  Required

One reader comment