Victor Gonzales, 23

Victor Gonzales, a 23-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Wednesday, July 26, on Clark Avenue at Ridley Avenue in Hacienda Heights, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The incident began early that afternoon, when Gonzales was home with other family members in the 15500 block of Ladysmith Street in Hacienda Heights, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza. 

Gonzales, his brother and another relative were in the front yard when a white sedan drove by and the people inside yelled something at them, Mendoza said. 

“There was a little disturbance and the car leaves,” Mendoza said. “Then sometime later — it’s unclear how much time elapsed — the three men from the Ladysmith house were in a car, driving eastbound on Clark Avenue.”

When the Gonzales car got to Ridley Avenue, it made contact with the same white sedan, and a car-to-car shooting ensued, Mendoza said. 

Investigators don’t know who started the shooting, but they believe more than one gun was involved. When it was over, the white car was seen heading east on Clark, out of view.

The victims’ car also headed east on Clark and turned north on Turnbull Canyon Road, where it collided with an unrelated vehicle on Don Julian Avenue in the City of Industry, Mendoza said. 

Gonzales, a front-seat passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:35 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the chest.

Mendoza said the driver, a 25-year-old Latino, was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm. He is expected to survive. The third relative, a 23-year-old Latino, ran from the scene but was caught and detained by deputies. He was not injured. 

The unrelated car involved in the collision was occupied by a male driver and his three children, Mendoza said. They were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.

Investigators believe the shooting was gang related, Mendoza said. They found more than one type of bullet at the shooting scene, but no weapons.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.