Jose Luis Horta, 34

June 20, 2014

Jose Luis Horta, a 34-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Friday, June 20, in the 5300 block of South Figueroa Street in Vermont Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Horta was walking his dog about 1:45 a.m. south on South Figueroa Street when a brown van pulled up and a person inside fired multiple times, said Los Angeles Police Det. Chris Barling.

Horta was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:41 a.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman.

Officers nearby heard the gunshots and found Horta on the sidewalk. Officers then pursued the van, which embarked on a chase that ended when the van crashed into a pole at South Sepulveda Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport, Barling said.

Eric Richard Sailor, a 22-year-old Latino, Daniel Alonzo Martinez, a 20-year-old Latino, and Julio Reyes Pena, a 17-year-old Latino, were arrested on suspicion of murder that night. A gun was recovered at the scene.

Sailor, Martinez and Pena were each charged with one count of murder and robbery June 24, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Pena was charged as an adult. Martinez was also charged with one count of unlawful firearm activity. Sailor was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Share a memory or thought about Jose Luis Horta

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

26 reader comments

Ms. Sailor,
This was your son...you gave him a tough life? Why? What did you do to this young man that would allow him to think that being in a car with other people who were commiting a crime was perfectly okay. I don't understand why you would give him such a hard life, why didn't you give him up for someone else to raise if you were not a good mother? Why did you have more kids after him if you know you did such a bad job with him? Why have kids that society is not going to allow to do whatever he wants because he wants to. You mean your entire family allowed you to screw up this baby...child...and then finally a teenager and NOT one person in your family could step in and be that role model? Really? No one in your family or in his father's family could step up to the plate and take him in but NOW he is away from the same family that turned his back on him during his formative years and that's somehow sad? He doesn't need you now...the county and then the state will take care of all his needs. You cannot make up for lost time, man has not figured out how to do that. If your son had such a hard life growing up why? where were you and what did you do to contiubute that that hard life?

— Deena July 10, 2014 at 6:22 p.m.

First off I want to let my son know how much I and his dad love him very much. And his younger brothers and baby sister love him and will always have his back no matter what. We don't. Know what happens to that young man bless him and his family were sorry for their loss. But we also lost our son my children lost their big brother. And his cousins lost their little cousin.we all lost someone we love very much. And for people who don't. Know him to get on here and say he deserves to be in prison is wrong your not god. who are you to say what should happen to him. My boy is a good kid. He's. Smart talented, respectful, a good son and big brother. We all make mistakes and if he did what the media is saying he did he will pay his dues. And I will still love him and have his back no matter what. He has had a hard life no child should have to go through. You all want to judge him but how about the other guy. What was he doing out in the bad part of l.a. At that time. My son is not a killer.. if it was your family member being accused of something like this I don't. Think you would want people talking bad about them. So have some respect please.

— sailor July 10, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Jose Luis Horta, 34

Share a memory or thought about Jose Luis Horta

26 reader comments