Ramiro Lepe, 39

Ramiro Lepe, a 39-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Friday, Aug. 5, in the 2600 block of East 129th Street in unincorporated Willowbrook, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The married father of four was celebrating his 39th birthday at his home the night he was shot, said L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Corina.

Lepe was standing on his front lawn with his brothers and a cousin around 9 p.m., when a car drove past the house and stopped. Three men got out of the car and one began shooting at the people in the yard, Corina said. Lepe was struck by gunfire and taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

The assailants, described only as Latino, got back into the red four-door sedan and drove away, Corina said. 

The shooting appears to be gang-related, Corina said, but Lepe was not a gang member, “so why he was targeted, we’re not sure yet," he said. "We have no motive."

Family members called the shooting a case of mistaken identity on a page asking for contributions to help with Lepe’s burial. 

Lepe was “a man who dedicated his life to his family, and spent the little free time he had motivating others to live a fit life,” according to a Gofundme page. “He had a passion for boxing and fitness, and enjoyed creating free workout camps to get everyone involved in feeling good about themselves.”

Lepe and his family were also fans of the Rams football team, according to the site. For Christmas, his Facebook page featured a photo of the family Christmas tree with a Rams helmet at the top. "This is our star," the caption read. 

His Facebook page and the fundraising page also featured a photo of him and his family posing in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after a rally for the team in January. The six family members are all wearing Rams jerseys, and Lepe is standing next to his youngest child, helping her balance a large Rams flag. 

“Unfortunately he didn't get the opportunity to watch his team play at home," the fundraising site said, "or open the Rams birthday gift his kids had for him.”

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 are (800) 222-8477.   

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.