Mario Alfonso Andrade, 47

Mario Andrade, a 47-year-old Latino, was shot in the back and died on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, in the 14000 block of Pierce Street in Panorama City, police said.

Juan Carlos Estrada of Arleta is accused of shooting Andrade, who tried to steal his car. Police arrested Estrada and are searching for a second suspect in the botched heist, authorities said.

Andrade and another man apparently tried to steal Estrada's vehicle early Monday, and Estrada confronted them, according to investigators.

The two men attempted to flee in their red 1991 Nissan Stanza. Estrada shot at the car, hitting Andrade in the head, police said.

The driver of the Nissan took Andrade to Mission Community Hospital, where he alerted hospital staff that the passenger in his vehicle had been shot.

The unidentified man then ran off shortly after hospital staff took Andrade into the emergency room, police said. Andrade was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The driver of the car is at large, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call detectives at (818) 838-9810 or (877) 527-3247. Callers can remain anonymous.

-- Ruben Vives