Juan Manuel Montes, 24

June 1, 2010, 9:31 a.m.

Juan Montes, a 24-year-old Latino, died Monday, May 31, several hours after he was shot in the 1400 block of East 25th Street in Central-Alameda, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Montes was involved in an altercation that escalated into a shooting about 9:55 p.m. Sunday, said LAPD Newton Det. Tommy Thompson.

Montes was taken to County-USC Medical Center where he died at 12:55 a.m. Monday, according to coroner’s records.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, Thompson said.

Anyone with information about the death of Juan Montes is asked to contact LAPD Newton Homicide detectives at (323) 846-6556. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477).

-- Sarah Ardalani

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66 reader comments

Another thought: I see comments about his young family and although I do feel sorrow and sympathy for them, I don't for Juan. He as a father and husband should have been less selfish about his own means by jumping some1. Some1 who really worries and cares for his family doesn't go around causing and looking for Trouble. He avoids it. He wasn't protecting his family when he and the other 2 guys began beating on the 1 guy. They were being cowards trying to feel like they were tough guys. They followed the guy they incited the fight and escalated it into a shooting by pulling out weapons. A good father and husband wouldn't of done that. I hope those two kids will be fine but I have no sympathy for the father since he did this to himself. He had many chances to turn away but didn't. He should have put his kids future and safety ahead of his own issues. A good parent sacrifices.

— THE TRUTH Sept. 25, 2010 at 9:26 p.m.

How I miss you, you only know.. How sometimes I feel like losing control (Devil I rebuke you) and all I do is grasp for air and tell myself not to dare I have something precious to look after. We’ve been through so much and still I shed so many tears cause of pain.. I feel cursed. My soldiers are slowly fading away you know you were one lil bro even though you were younger I gave you that role. But satisfied I am that I lost my fear to leaving this so called life and look forward till we meet again in a life free of sin and pain. I LOVE YOU and appreciate all you ever did for me. This soldier will stand till the end of time and promise to do right for the sake of “M”ine because my lord taught me better through all these years of war.

Lord Give me a Sign! I really need to talk to you Lord since the last time we talked the walk has been hard now I know you haven't left me but I feel like I'm alone I'm a big girl now but I'm still not grown and I'm still going through it Pain and the hurt Soaking up trouble like rain in the dirt And I know! Only I can stop the rain with just the mention of my saviors name IN THE NAME OF JESUS! Devil I rebuke you for what I go through and trying make me do what I used to but all that stops right here as long as the Lords in my life I will have no fear I will know no pain from the light to the dark I will show no shame spit it right from the heart cause its right from the start But you held me down and ain't nothing they can tell me now Lord give me a sign!

Let me know what’s on your mind, Let me know what I'm gone find It's all in time Show me how to teach the mind Show me how to reach the blind, Show me what I got to do To bring me closer to you Cause I'm gonna go through Whatever you want me to Just let me know what to do.

Please show me something I'm tired of talking to him Knowing he fronting Crying bout life ain't nothing But you either be the one mad cause you trapped, or the one hunting Trapped in your own mind waiting on the Lord Or hunting with the word that cuts like a sword The spoken word is stronger than the strongest man Carries the whole world like the strongest hand Through the trials and tribulations you never let us down JESUS! I know your here with us now JESUS! I know your still with us now Keep it real wit us now I wanna feel show me how Let me take your hand, guide me i’ll walk slow but stay right beside me Devil's tryna find me Hide me, hold up I take that back Protect me and give me the strength to fight back!

Life or death Live or die I will never live a lie I'm going there cause I try I won’t quit until I die I'm gone make it wrong or right Make it through the darkest night When the morning comes you'll see All I have is God in me

In the name of Jesus No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against me in judgment thou shalt condemn for this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

— Lucie Montes July 26, 2010 at 9:42 a.m.

-C wanga's -real funny stuff from a wansk'ta you should be a comedian & not a wannabe.Yeah we still hurting, still in pain that's how we express our love our feelings for a loved one, you envy the fact when you're gone,you'll have no one remembering when you're gone. Is that it because gangsters don't love; you're big homie's consider you puppets. They pull the string you commit a crime,they provide a hit you pull out you're magic flute,you feel brave you're naive don't you get it.They order you around like a slave. Hahaha that ! wait and see when facing 15 to life or 25 to life or probably facing no date let's see how much of a ganster you really are.Or will you step on you're tail & tat'tle-tale.We'll see how much you're homie's will provide for you slave. Laugh at that be sarcastic you'll end up upset & abandoned on you're way to the holding tank .Laugh the hardest you're life will be the saddest.

— God bless Jusnito's Memory 4 life July 4, 2010 at 10:12 a.m.

Laugh and you will feel my pain.! Tear for tear.!. and when you find you can't sleep and your going insane you'll remember all the pain you caused and beg the lord for fogiveness.. You think you got away (now I laugh) think again.. You might excape in the eyes of man but you never will..! in the eyes of my lord.. Rest now as you think you've gotten away with it because when you least expect it; it will creep up..

I come to you hungry and tired, you give food and let me sleep, I come to you weak, you give strength and that's deep, you called me a sheep, and leed me to green pastures, only asking that I keep the focus, between the chaptures, You give me the word and only acts I interpet, And give me the eyes so I can recognize the serpent, You know I ain't perfect, but you'll like me to try, And just like the devil who wants me to lie, Till I die, Lord why is it that, that I go through so much pain, All I saw was black and all I felt was rain, I come to you because it's you that knows, To show me that everything is black Because me eyes were closed, You give me the light and let me bask in your glory, So it was only right that when you ask for this story, I put together to do all dogs some good, All dogs being all the brothers and sisters in the hood, Plenty of times you sent help my way but I hid, I remember once you held me close but I slid, There was something that I just had to see, That you wanted me to see so I can be what you wanted me to be, And I think I am seeing it but I don't feel the same, Matter of fact I know I have seen it I can feel the change, And it's strange almost got me beating down your door, But I have never known love like this before, It's a wonderful feeling to get away from the pain, And up under the ceiling I get away from the rain, And the strain that I feel when I'm here is gone, I know real so I wipe away the tears son, And I almost lost faith in you when you took my man Juan, Pass over chase a brother down And I fear that what I saying won't be heard until I'm gone, But it's all good, Cause I didn't expect to live long, So if it takes for me to suffer for my brother to see the light, Give me pain till I die but please lord treat him right..

— You will pay wanna be LP June 29, 2010 at 8:48 a.m.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.....Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.....Be kind anyway

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.....Succeed anyway

If your honest and frank, people may cheat you.....Be honest and frank anyway

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.....Build anyway

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.....Be happy anyway

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.....Do good anyway

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.....Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God
.....It never was between you and them anyway.....

— Lucie Montes June 16, 2010 at 8:22 a.m.

Sometimes people take other people as a threat in their life and feel like a better person to take one’s life away.. And for all you nosey people my brother was NOT a thug just move on with your happy little fairy tale lives… the one’s that took his life away will pay in hell.! When time comes I guarantee you.. It’s not a threat is called your life because you don’t know any better.. You never get to enjoy life because you waste your time destroying it what a pity.. RIP little brother you will always be with me tell mother I love her.. Hugs & kisses

He was more than just a baby daddy – he was a brother, husband, cousin, uncle, friend and most of all he was the only person I cared for in this life

Lord be my Sheppard, may god bless all you sick minded people..

— Lucie Montes June 10, 2010 at 3:20 p.m.