Julius Realista Rondez, 70

Julius Realista Rondez, a 70-year-old Filipino man, died Wednesday, July 3, after he was assaulted in the 400 block of East Temple Street in downtown, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

On July 2 about 4:35 p.m., Rondez was walking down the street when he was knocked to the ground in an unprovoked attack, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.  

Rondez fell and struck his head on the pavement. He was taken to a hospital and died the next day.

Officers recognized Gerson Carrillotorres, a 22-year-old Latino, from surveillance video and arrested him on suspicion of murder. Carrillotorres was charged July 15 with one count of murder and is awaiting trial, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The day of the attack, Rondez was supposed to go on vacation, his daughter Janice Rondez said in an interview with KTLA-TV Channel 5.

“He was a really great man,” she said, adding that her father was a hard worker who refused to retire. “He was like, ‘No, I can still work. I’m still strong.’ He was everything to us.”

DWP General Manager David Wright said in a note to staff that Rondez had worked for the department for more than 33 years, most recently as a senior commercial representative in meter services and field operations.

He was a devoted Dodgers and Lakers fan, a mentor to new employees and a friendly presence in the DWP office, Wright said.

“Julius was known for his happiness, sense of humor and one-of-a-kind personality,” Wright said. “He was kind, peaceful and a family man who took great pride in his loved ones.”

According to KABC-TV Channel 7, Rondez was a father of three and a grandparent of five.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.