Ray Anthony Nolen, 35

Ray Anthony Nolen, a 35-year-old Latino, was shot Nov. 3 in the 11300 block of Washington Boulevard near the border of West Whittier and Santa Fe Springs and died the next day, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Nolen was sitting on a curb outside a Jack in the Box restaurant about 11:30 p.m. when a dark-colored sedan passed him, then circled back to put him in the car's headlights. A man got out and shot Nolen several times in the chest before fleeing, police said.

Nolen was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:31 a.m. Nov. 4.

“The investigation is ongoing at this time,” said L.A. County Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Ramirez. “We haven’t had anybody come forward with any other information.”

The spray-painted words "Ray-Ray" marked a memorial in the parking lot recently. Notes from family and friends were accompanied by flowers, candles and a miniature Santa Claus figure. 

Some news reports said Nolen was homeless, but his sister, Kathy Valdez, said he was staying with several roommates in a house not far from the Jack in the Box. After a falling out, Nolen had left to look for a new place to live and had been on the streets a few days when he was shot. 

Nolen was born in Orange County and was raised in Moreno Valley, Valdez said. He leaves behind an infant daughter.  

“Ray was a free spirit,” Valdez said. “He loved hiking. He loved surfing, the beach. He just liked to be free.”

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. And follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.