Public’s Help Sought in June 1997 Slaying
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Investigators are seeking the public’s help in apprehending two men involved in a shooting last June 30 that left an 18-year-old man dead.
Bernard Garcia Lopez Jr. was killed while walking friends to their car at 1:35 a.m. outside his home in the 7800 block of Joel Street.
A gunman emerged from shadows across the street and shot Lopez with a handgun, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Hector Rivera said. A second assailant remained in the shadows and watched, according to authorities. Both were last seen running west on Joel Street.
Investigators have released a sketch of one suspect, described as Latino, 17 to 21 years old, about 5-foot-8, with a heavy build, shaved head and large “jug” type ears. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black pants and shoes.
The victim’s family is offering a $2,500 reward to whoever leads police to the killers, according to Lopez’s mother, Juanita.
Anyone with information should call sheriff’s homicide investigators David Guest or Dan Stack at (714) 647-7431.
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