Los Angeles, CA – Jose Ayala Martinez, a 69-year-old resident of Los Angeles, is in critical condition after being shot three times during an attempted carjacking late Tuesday night in the Montecito Heights area. The violent incident occurred shortly before midnight at the intersection of Marmion Way and Pasadena Avenue, where Martinez was approached by a 19-year-old suspect.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the suspect, identified as a documented gang member, demanded Martinez’s vehicle. When Martinez refused to comply, the suspect opened fire, striking him in the mouth, neck, and shoulder. Despite his severe injuries, Martinez managed to drive about a mile to a Food 4 Less parking lot at the intersection of Figueroa Street and North Avenue 51, where he contacted the police and a friend for help.
Lourdes Moarde, a friend of Martinez, recounted the terrifying moment when she received his call. "He was speaking very slowly. I said, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘They tried to rob or kill me, I don’t know,’" Moarde shared, visibly shaken by the ordeal.
Emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived quickly at the scene and rushed Martinez to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. The local community has been left shaken by the attack, with residents expressing their growing concerns over rising violence in the area.
The suspect was apprehended by police officers shortly after the shooting, as he attempted to flee the scene. The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, and the investigation into the attempted carjacking and shooting continues.
This incident has sparked widespread fear and concern among residents, as the community grapples with the alarming increase in violent crime in their neighborhood. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward as the investigation progresses.