Cesar Guadalupe Rodriguez, 19

Aug. 30, 2011, 1:34 p.m.

Cesar Rodriguez, a 19-year-old Latino, was killed in a drive-by shooting Sunday, Aug. 28, in the 11800 block of Painter Avenue in South Whittier, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Rodriguez, an Explorer with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Norwalk station, was gunned down in front of a home early Sunday as he was leaving a party, officials said.

Larry Villegas, a 24-year-old Latino, was also killed in the hail of bullets outside the party.

Rodriguez was a respected member of the station's Explorer post and had been a member of the unit's honor guard, the station's captain said.

"It was Cesar's lifelong dream to become a deputy sheriff," said Capt. Patrick Maxwell, commander of the Norwalk station.

Four attackers in a gray Scion fled north on Painter after the driver fired multiple rounds from a handgun, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (323) 890-5516. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Robert J. Lopez

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10 reader comments

I never met Cesar, but I have met his mother, and she gets thru each day with the pain of her lost son. I don't understand why we can't get Cesar's face, and the face of his friend Larry Villegas on a big bill board or a bus bench in their neighborhood with crime stoppers or some other organization to try to get more info on this crime. What a shame it is to have the community forget in any way this loss. Cesar was an LASD Explorer for four years. He was in his own neighborhood. He was what this world needed more of !!! I understand that they may have a reward source in the community to help get the word out, what would it hurt to try, other than the time of looking into possible leads. It will be three years on Aug 29th and I would love to see that something is being done. I'm sure that there will be a march on Aug 29th 2014, as well, to honor the boys. How can we make the unincorporated area of Whittier a safer place. I hope we can get a reward sign up soon !

— gale haus April 19, 2014 at 1:22 p.m.

Sad to hear this young man was killed for nothing. This situation, plays it self out, almost every other night or day the county of Los Angeles. You got looser "gangbangers" looking for targets, and they shoot people who have nothing to do with the crap they are involved in. I too, in my younger years, wanted to become law enforcement---but with LBPD--after I was told to come back next year to try it out again, after they saw my credit report--I was able to obtain work as a Casual Longshoreman in the ports of LA/LB , and never looked back--We all have dreams---we all have goals---and for somebody to just snuff out this guy's life, along with his buddy---its so stupid. But mostly, everybody who is reading this---knows that. But those deputies will catch those crazy killers in that Scion, soon enough. They will have snitches to thank for that. These "gangsters" will rat each other out so fast, its only a matter of time till the word on the street, get to the detectives---

— Foclipz Sept. 2, 2011 at 8:02 a.m.

"My Adam"
by Tracy Lamont

I walked away that morning, without a backward glance,
I didn't know that moment was going to be our last.
The last time I would hold you or see your lovely face,
The last time I would kiss you and feel your strong embrace.

So solid and so real,so vibrant and alive,
A happy face with twinkling eyes, my fine young man, my child.
My first-born son, my Adam, the apple of my eye,
so cruelly taken from me, I never said goodbye.

The shattered remnant of my heart is strangely beating still,
with holes so black and fathomless no light could ever fill.
I don't know how I face each day without my darling boy.
Gone is all the happiness, the love of life, the joy.

The years stretch on before me, so bleak and dark and long,
I pray you walk beside me, son, and help to keep me strong.
And when my life is over, come to me on that day,
and smile at me and hold me tight and carry me away.

The wind that whispers through the trees, the brightest star at night,
a rainbow on a dismal day, a shaft of golden light,
All these are signs you send to me, a message from above,
that even death can't break the bonds of Son and Mother Love...

— Girbaud King Sept. 1, 2011 at 12:14 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Cesar Guadalupe Rodriguez, 19

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10 reader comments