Francisco Javier Alvarez, 49

Francisco Javier Alvarez, a 49-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, Oct. 18, in Pacoima, on an embankment near the transition of the westbound 118 Freeway and the northbound 5 Freeway, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. near a homeless encampment adjacent to Paxton Park, said Los Angeles Police Department Det. Manuel Armijo. 

Alvarez, who lived in the camp, was talking to three other acquaintances that morning who also lived in the camp. 

“A dispute came up, the suspect produced a gun and shot the victim multiple times,” Armijo said. “They all knew each other, but the details of the dispute are unknown.”

Alvarez was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:28 a.m., according to coroner’s records. 

A suspect was arrested “within minutes of the shooting, as he was fleeing from the area,” Armijo said. 

Jovanny Valenzuela, who is Latino and turned 22 the day before the shooting, was arrested and has been charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 10 in Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Armijo in the LAPD Foothill Homicide Division at (818) 834-3105. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.