LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: There have been some shocking developments in the case of the missing California woman who was abducted, only for her to be found dead, 24 hours later.
The victim, identified as Andrea Vazquez, 20, was found dead in a vegetation field in Moreno Valley. “It’s a pain nobody deserves”, her mother Anna told KCLA, continuing, “She was my everything.” Additonally, the family has set up a GoFundMe campaign page.
The news coincided with the announcement of a suspect's arrest in connection with what authorities described as a "random attack”. The suspect in this case is 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza. Authorities reportedly found a weapon linked to the crime in Esparza's car.
What happened to Andrea Vazquez?
The incident began when Vazquez and her boyfriend were in a parked car at Penn Park, where they were targeted by a gunman who opened fire on them around midnight on August 20. The situation escalated as Vazquez was forcefully taken from the scene.
Whittier police said, “At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park”.
Who was arrested in Andrea Vazquez’s murder?
Law enforcement authorities have arrested Gabriel Esparza, a 20-year-old resident of Whittier, in connection with the case.
Esparza was taken into custody without any resistance while at his job in Lakewood. He now faces charges of murder and kidnapping in relation to this tragic incident.
As a murder suspect, Gabriel Esparza is currently in custody and has been denied bail. The case will be transferred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for further legal processing.
Whittier, the location of the incident, is situated approximately 20 miles away from downtown Los Angeles. “Detectives are not disclosing any additional details at this time because the investigation is ongoing,” Whittier police revealed.
The legal process will now proceed under the jurisdiction of the district attorney's office as they review the evidence and determine the appropriate course of action.
Where was Andrea Vazquez’s boyfriend at the time of the incident?
Andrea Vazquez's boyfriend managed to escape from the vehicle after the assailant opened fire. However, upon his return, he discovered blood near the car and realized that his girlfriend was missing, as recounted by law enforcement officials.
In the course of their investigation, authorities have successfully located a weapon that they believe is connected to the crime.
Additionally, they have recovered Gabriel Esparza's 2013 white Toyota Tacoma, which appears to be linked to the case. Authorities recovered the weapon they believed is tied to the crime in the car's trunk.