Juan Carlos Gomez, 32

Juan Carlos Gomez, a 32-year-old Latino, died on Wednesday, March 8, after he was shot at the corner of Blanchard Street and Geraghty Avenue in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Gomez was sitting in a parked car shortly after 4 p.m. when he exchanged angry words with a man who was walking by, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Marcelo Quintero.

The man, described as a younger-looking Latino, pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds into Gomez’s car, Quintero said. 

Gomez drove away heading west on Blanchard, but crashed into a retaining wall at North Gage Avenue, about two blocks away, Quintero said.

Deputies found Gomez lying on the sidewalk outside his car with gunshot wounds, Quintero said. Gomez was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Gomez lived in another part of East Los Angeles and was talking to a young woman shortly before the shooting, Quintero said. Investigators believe he knew the gunman, and that’s why they exchanged words, “but at some point the exchange went really sour,” Quintero said. 

Investigators haven’t been able to find many witnesses and don’t know the gunman’s motive, Quintero said.

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 at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.