Ruben Alfredo Castellanos, 27

Ruben Castellanos, a 27-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, Aug. 22, in the 300 block of East 129th Street in unincorporated Willowbrook, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. Castellanos also went by the name Jonathan Alfredo Lopez-Guzman.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called about 8:23 p.m. regarding a gunshot victim, said Lt. Joe Mendoza. They found Castellanos lying in the street next to his car with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body, Mendoza said. 

Castellanos was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

Witnesses reported seeing several black men running from the scene, a residential neighborhood just east of  South San Pedro Street, said Det. Peter Hecht.

The neighborhood is frequented by members of a predominately black gang, Hecht said, and investigators believe the shooting may have stemmed from a drug deal gone bad. 

“This is a well known gang neighborhood,” Hecht said. “We’ve been walking the neighborhood, trying to get information, but witnesses on the street are scared to death. They don’t want to come forward.”

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

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.