Jesus Alfred Vargas, 53

Jesus Alfred Vargas, a 53-year-old Latino, died on Monday, Feb. 2, after sustaining blunt force trauma in the 12000 block of Ramona Boulevard in El Monte, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

About 3 p.m. on Jan. 8, Vargas was approached by Greg Edward Cortez, a 34-year-old Latino, in a parking lot. The two got into an argument over drugs, said Vargas was homeless and had a drug problem, said El Monte Police Det. Eric Walterscheid.

Cortez punched Vargas in the face, knocking him to ground, witnesses told police. When Vargas tried to get up, Cortez kicked him in the head, Walterscheid said.

Cortez then got in his car and drove away. El Monte police arrived shortly after the attack. Walterscheid said several store owners, shoppers, and a homeless person who knew Vargas, saw the attack and were able to help investigators identify Cortez. 

Vargas was taken to a hospital where he was treated for his wounds.

On Feb. 2, he was pronounced dead at 7:17 p.m., according to coroner's records.

“Even though he was down and out, and not having employment, he had a very beautiful girlfriend and children who live in another city,” Walterscheid said. “He was never a threat to anybody. He was just trying to get by.”

Two days after the attack, detectives and a team of officers tracked Cortez to his home by tracing his phone, Walterscheid said. When Cortez left in his car, they stopped him and picked him up, said Walterscheid.

On Oct. 14, 2015, Cortez pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 8 years in state prison, according to a spokesman with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.