A story for every victim

Yancy Dayanara Alachan-Cruz, 42

Yancy Dayanara Alachan-Cruz, a 42-year-old Latina, died on Sunday, April 2, after being shot in the 6300 block of Pacific Boulevard in Huntington Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

That Saturday night, Alachan-Cruz had been at the Margarita Jones nightclub at 6341 Pacific Blvd., according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch. 

She left the club in a car with three Latino friends at about 2 a.m. Sunday, heading north on Pacific. They stopped at a red light at Clarendon Avenue, and a dark-colored vehicle pulled up on the right side of their car, beside Alachan-Cruz in the front passenger seat, Jauch said. 

Someone in the dark vehicle began shooting into the other car and Alachan-Cruz was struck in the head, Jauch said. The driver was struck in the right arm, and bullets grazed a back-seat passenger in the head and leg. A passenger sitting behind the driver was uninjured. 

The attacker's car peeled off to the right, onto Clarendon Street, and sped out of view, Jauch said. 

The driver of the victims’ car continued north on Pacific Boulevard to a nearby hospital, where Alachan-Cruz was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m., according to coroner’s records. The other two victims were treated for their wounds and released, Jauch said.

Investigators don’t have a motive for the shooting or a description of the shooter or suspect car, Jauch said. 

Friends have begun a fundraising campaign to send Alachan-Cruz’s body to Honduras. 

The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the case for the Huntington Park Police Department. 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.  

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