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The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for a suspect wanted in connection with the Dec. 31, 2017, killing of Jorge Reyes. Jr. in Northridge. The LAPD released information about the suspect and a video from the crime scene on Jan. 18, 2018.
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NORTHRIDGE >> The killing of 23-year-old Northridge resident Jorge Reyes Jr. the evening before the new year was over eye contact, authorities said at a news conference where they distributed information about the man alleged to have shot Reyes.
“It appears to be a perceived disrespect issue,” said Los Angeles Police Department Detective Ryan Verna at a news conference Thursday in front of LAPD’s Devonshire Station. “It’s as simple as that and as ridiculous as that.”
The purpose of the news conference was to release more information about the suspect, who authorities described as a Hispanic man with light skin standing approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall.
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Tears fall as Jorge Reyes pleads for help in finding the suspect responsible for the slaying of his 23-year-old son Jorge Reyes Jr., during Thursday's news conference. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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LAPD Captain Bryan Lium addresses the media during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 18 discussing the suspect in Dec. 31's killing of 23-year-old Jorge Reyes Jr. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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LAPD Captain Bryan Lium addresses the media during Thursday, Jan. 18's news conference at the Devonshire Community Police Station in Northridge. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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This still from a video shows a male, left, who is suspected of killing 23-year-old Northridge resident Jorge Reyes Jr. on New Year's Eve. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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This video still shows the man, left, suspected of killing 23-year-old Northridge resident Jorge Reyes Jr. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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This video still shows a male, left, suspected of killing 23-year-old Northridge resident Jorge Reyes Jr. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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LAPD Detective Ryan Verna addresses the media during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 18 at the Devonshire Community Police Station in Northridge on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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LAPD Detective Ryan Verna during Thursday, Jan. 18's news conference discussing a suspect in the New Year's Eve killing of 23-year-old Jorge Reyes Jr. of Northridge. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Jorge Reyes asks for help in finding the person responsible for the death of his 23-year-old son, Jorge Reyes Jr. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Verna said the man was in his late 20s or early 30s and has multiple tattoos, which are on display in a video the LAPD posted to YouTube showing surveillance footage of him and a woman inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
The crime was reported as an “ambulance shots fired” radio call at 6:05 p.m. on Dec. 31 in the 8600 block of Balboa Avenue outside that KFC, LAPD officials said.
When Devonshire area patrol officers responded, they found Reyes Jr. lying in the parking lot of a business suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Responding L.A. Fire Department paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
Authorities said Reyes Jr. and his two friends drove to the restaurant and the driver and other occupant went inside while Reyes Jr. stayed behind in the front passenger seat.
LAPD Captain Bryan Lium said the suspect exited the restaurant and confronted Reyes, who was sitting alone in the vehicle.
An argument occurred between Reyes and the suspect, who then pulled out a handgun and shot the victim multiple times, Lium said. The man then entered a four-door vehicle and fled the location, he added.
#LAPD Capt. Bryan Lium in #Northridge describes murder of Jorge Reyes Jr. that happened on Dec. 31 in the 8600 block of Balboa Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/OqOGWySxp2
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 18, 2018
The LAPD is asking for the public’s help in identifying, arresting and prosecuting the person responsible for Reyes Jr.’s death.
Verna added that authorities would like to speak with a Hispanic woman with long, dark hair in her late 20s to early 30s seen with the suspect in the video.
The suspect also had two young boys with him, approximately 4 and 8 years old, Verna said.
“We are obviously concerned for their safety based on the violent acts that were perpetrated by this male suspect,” Verna said. “So we are looking to speak to not only those people involved in this crime, but also any witnesses that may have seen what happened that day.”
#LAPD Det. Ryan Verna describes the suspect in Jorge Reyes., Jr. murder case, directs people to LAPD site for video & asks public for help pic.twitter.com/y8sNKh4j5V
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 18, 2018
Reyes Jr.’s father, Jorge Reyes, could barely speak to the assembled media on Thursday morning before he started crying.
“Somebody knows this guy who shot my son,” Reyes said amid sobs. “Contact the police.” He was able to issue a brief statement in Spanish afterward.
Jorge Reyes, father of 23-year-old #Northridge murder victim Jorge Reyes., Jr., gets emotional asking the public for help to solve crime pic.twitter.com/UD4iksHAqb
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 18, 2018
After the news conference, Verna said what has made the case difficult to solve is that the California gang database, known as CalGang, was taken down indefinitely on Jan. 1 after Assembly Bill 90 passed.
“Part of the bill is they have taken away our access because (the Department of Justice) will do an audit,” said Verna of the database that critics have called controversial because of accuracy issues. There is no timeline for its return, he added.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact LAPD Detective Steve Castro, Valley Bureau Homicide, at 818-374-1925 or anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-8477 or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
