Isaiah Miguel Equihua, 22

Isaiah Miguel Equihua, a 22-year-old Latino, died on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, after he was shot at the corner of California and Michigan avenues in South Gate, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The evening before he died, Equihua met his girlfriend after work, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Det. Brandt House. 

Shortly before 11 p.m., the couple sat down on a bench at the southeast corner of the intersection to wait for a bus when a man walked up and began talking. 

“Words were exchanged, the victim stood up and the suspect shot him several times before running away,” House said. 

Equihua was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead the following afternoon at 1:40 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as gunshot wounds to the head.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $20,000 reward on Nov. 14 to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, House said. 

The suspect was described as a Latino who may have gotten into a compact gray sedan shortly after the shooting.

Investigators believe the shooter was probably a gang member. Equihua had been affiliated with a gang when he was younger, “but at the time he was murdered, he was not active with any gang,” House said. “He basically had left that behind.”

That intersection is heavily traveled, even late in the evening, House said, and many people were in the area at the time of the shooting, but no one has provided information that would identify the suspect. 

Equihua lived in South Gate, House said. “He has a really nice family, and he was just waiting for a bus to take him home. It’s real senseless and real sad.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.