$15,000 reward offered for information in killing of East L.A. father in 2014

Andrew Ruben Fierro was listening to music on his headphones moments before he was shot to death outside his in-laws’ East Los Angeles home on Aug. 22, 2014. 

Fierro, a 31-year-old truck dispatcher, was double parked in the 200 block of North Arizona Avenue, waiting for his wife to bring their two children outside, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Martindale.

It was 9:45 p.m. on a Friday night, and Fierro and his wife had been at the grocery store buying supplies for a family outing to the beach the next day, Martindale said.

Then someone walked up to the driver’s side door. It’s not clear if Fierro or the gunman opened the door, Martindale said, but someone began firing into the car, striking Fierro multiple times in the head and torso. 

Neighbors heard the gunfire and saw a dark-colored, possibly red compact car driving away southbound from the scene. 

The car turned west on First Street and drove out of sight, but investigators found a smashed shell casing at that intersection that matched the casings found at the shooting, said Martindale. That’s why they believe the car was involved in the shooting. 

Investigators don’t have other clues to go by and are hoping a new $15,000 reward approved by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis will encourage people to come forward, Martindale said. 

“I keep this case on my desk every day," Martindale said. 

Martindale added: “He was a father, a husband, and everybody in the community loved him. Even the people who worked with him spoke highly of the man. His death was a loss for everybody.”

Fierro was not associated with gangs, Martindale said. Investigators believe he may have been the victim of a mistaken identity. Some gang members shave their heads and wear facial hair, Martindale said. Fierro was balding and had a goatee.

Otherwise, Martindale said, “we’re baffled why somebody would want to shoot this father. ... He had a 9-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, and by all accounts he was a great neighbor, a great father and a great husband.”

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

Photo: Andrew Fierro in a family photo provided to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.