Homicide Report > Alfonso Nava, 26
Alfonso Nava, 26
Died Feb. 13, 2011
Salvador Medina gladly helped his friend Alfonso Nava walk to his home in Exposition Park after a long night of drinking two weeks ago, lending him his sweater to help fight off the cold. The two were like brothers.
But early Sunday morning, Medina awoke to gunshots in his front yard and ran outside to find Nava on the sidewalk, choking on his own blood, and another friend bleeding to death nearby.
“There was blood everywhere, on the steps and everything,” said Medina, 20. “I looked and saw my friend just twitching. I felt his heart, I hugged him, and he was gone. He was holding my arm, and I just felt him let go. My shorts, my stomach, my arm, they were all covered in blood.”
He had desperately tried to save his friend’s life. Following a 911 dispatcher’s instructions before paramedics arrived, he had cut off Nava's shirt and pumped on his stomach. Days later, as he talked about that night, Medina pulled out the tiny silver scissors from his jeans pocket. He has been carrying them since Sunday morning.
Alfonso “Junior” Nava, a 26-year-old Latino, and Diego Garcia, a 25-year-old Latino, were killed early Sunday morning, Feb. 13 outside Medina’s home in the 1800 block of Leighton Avenue in Exposition Park.
“We suspect that it is gang-related,” said Det. David Garrido, with the LAPD Southwest Division homicide unit.
Another victim, Alfonso Richards, was shot in the chest and arm and taken to California Hospital Medical Center in critical condition. Richards was released Wednesday, according to Det. Linda Heitzman, an investigator on the Nava-Garcia case.
The suspects — described as two African American men in their mid 20s — walked up to the men, who had just returned from a party, shortly after 1 a.m.
Nava was shot in the head as he was talking to his girlfriend on his cellphone, neighbors said. The bullet passed through the phone. He died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
With Nava bleeding on the sidewalk, witnesses said the gunmen chased Garcia up the front steps of the one-story house, shooting him in the chest. Garcia collapsed in the rosebushes and Medina said he heard the assailants shoot Garcia again. Garcia later died at a hospital, according to the coroner’s office.
The gunmen ran away, witnesses said.
As the sun set on Tuesday evening, a group of friends gathered at Medina’s home, mournfully staring at the candles that lined the sidewalk. Some had placed bottles of Corona at the memorial; others had placed cigarettes, magazines, a bottle of Patron and photographs of the victims. Beside the rosebush where Garcia collapsed, a much smaller cluster of candles burned – not too many, Medina said, because they didn’t want the bushes to catch fire.
Many in the group questioned whether there was any connection between the shootings on Leighton Avenue and a quadruple homicide two days earlier.
Medina said Nava, Garcia and other close friends knew the victims in that case, three brothers — Luis Jimenez, 26, Angel Jimenez, 25, and Anthony Jimenez, 24 — and their cousin Martin Haro, 25. The four were fatally wounded while standing in the backyard of a Willowbrook home Sunday afternoon.
Ray Lugo — the investigator in charge of the Jimenez-Haro case for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — said he compared notes on the cases with the LAPD Gang Homicide Division investigator and is “really confident” they are not related. None of the homicide investigators provided further comment on the ongoing investigations.
Medina said the Jimenez family and his friends used to hang out together in his father’s repair shop, where Medina, Nava, Garcia and their group of friends often spent time.
In recounting their friendship, Medina repeatedly referred to Nava as “Fat Boy,” an intimate nickname reserved for only a select few friends. To everyone else, he was simply “Junior.”
The pair often worked together — everything from sweeping the floor in the repair shop to fixing their cars while listening to music.
Medina said he sensed trouble about a month ago when he saw an unfamiliar vehicle slowly roll down the street in front of his house. Suspecting the occupants to be gang members, he called the Police Department and requested that an officer investigate. He was told that cruising was not cause enough to dispatch a police officer.
One month later, he angrily asked: “Does somebody have to die for a cop to show up?”
Medina said he believes the authorities were callous in their response to the shootings outside his house. He said that it took emergency responders more than 20 minutes to respond to the 1 a.m. shooting. And although the police left the scene about 3 a.m., Medina said Nava’s body was left on the sidewalk until 9 a.m. when coroner’s officials showed up.
"Normally, when the victim expires on the scene, there is a rather lengthy process that goes on and the body can’t be moved,” Heitzman said, when asked about Medina’s account. “In this particular case, we didn’t leave the victim laying out to look at. He was covered.”
Coroner’s officials did not say when Nava’s body was picked up. They explained that typically their office gets a preliminary call from police notifying them of a homicide and another call when the body is ready to be retrieved.
Nava lived just two blocks from where he was killed in a home where his friend Garcia also had stayed for about five years. On Tuesday night, the house was packed with siblings, in-laws, cousins and children. While a soft glow of light stretched from the door frame out into night, the rest of the neighborhood was largely dark and empty.
Garcia had lived with the family for the last five years, but was private about his family and personal history, except to say that he was from Mexico.
“My mom considered him to be a son,” said Paula Solis, 24, one of Nava’s sisters. “He was always working, never used drugs or drank [alcohol]. He didn’t even drink soda.”
Eustolia Jimenez, 19, Nava’s youngest sister, said her brother phoned home 30 minutes before his death to ask if she or their mother were hungry.
“He was always happy,” Jimenez said. “He was very social, and had friends of all types, ages and races.”
Nava was a tattoo artist and used “everyone as his canvas,” said brother-in-law Manuel Balderas, 30. Jimenez agreed, saying that “he loved expressing himself in art.”
This was the first homicide in Exposition Park in nearly six months; the last reported killing was on Sept. 28.
The LAPD’s Garrido said the last year has been relatively quiet in the Southwest Division.
“We haven’t had any gang feuds that have evolved into a war between rival gangs.” Garrido said. He said it remained to be seen whether the double homicide would reignite gang tensions in the area.
Residents said the scene of the crime is in Rolling 30s territory, a Harlem Crips-affiliated group, with the 18th Street gang controlling a nearby corridor. Medina said that members of the Rolling 30s stopped by his house the morning after the killings to say they were not involved.
Although police described the killings as gang-related, Jimenez’s little sister said that her brother was not a gang member. She is not the only one to say so; many gathered in Medina’s front yard to pay their respects also said Nava was not in a gang.
For Medina, who said he was the one who’d been in trouble when they were younger, there was a deep sense of injustice.
“I thought I was gonna be the first one to go,” Medina said. “They got the wrong guy. They always get the fools who don’t do"stuff.
— Benjamin Gottlieb and Mary Slosson USC’s Neon Tommy/Annenberg Digital News
Editors' note: The Times and Annenberg Digital News at USC's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism are continuing a collaboration on the Homicide Report. Our hope is that this will provide readers with more frequent dispatches from the field, as well as give student journalists valuable crime-reporting experience. — Megan Garvey / Los Angeles Times and Alan Mittelstaedt / Annenberg Digital News.
Top photo: An opened Corona and assortment of cigarettes flank the candlelit memorial for Alfonso Nava and Diego Garcia. Credit: Mary Slosson
Bottom photo: Paula Solis holds a picture of her brother Alfonso "Junior" Nava outside of the family home. Credit: Mary Slosson
- Neighborhood: Exposition Park
- Age: 26
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Sunday
- Agency: LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: Latino
- Circumstance: Walk-up
- Crime scene: Front yard
Nava was killed at the same place and on the same day as Diego Garcia.
Related homicides:
17 reader comments about Alfonso Nava
May you rest in peace cousin. Alfonso aka Junior was a wounderful person. Thanks to him I have a wounderful family. He introduce me to my husband. He will always be missed.
Feb. 14, 2011 at 11:52 a.m.
Rest In Peace Junior, I will always remember what a great friend you were to me. I still cant believe your gone but i know your in heaven and will always be watching over your family.
~Haidee
Feb. 15, 2011 at 8:29 a.m.
JR, I cant believe your gone,I just really cant believe it,barley 5 days ago, you called me,& we talked about my situation,and it just doesnt seem real,I wish I could I just pick up the phone and call you! I will always remember you! always & forever! you will be missed! Rest In Peace my Little Secret..:( -P.
Feb. 17, 2011 at 1:07 a.m.
I would like to send my condolences to the Nava family through these very difficult time. I have been seing Junior through the years and i can tell you, he was not involved in gangs. I personally did not know Junior but street smarts tells me he was a good kid, not a cholo, rather a graffitti artist or sketch artist of some sort. Street smarts also tell me these murders ARE related to the four Jimenez siblings who were murdered in Willowbrook a week earlier. Junior Nava and Diego Garcia were friends with the Jimenez brothers and hung out together. Det. Garrido don't be this naive and close down all possible
leads on the case and jump to conclusions this early in the investigation and announce first hand that these murders are not related. Do your damm job detective, don't just show up to work for the paycheck. Prove us wrong and show the community you are paid to protect you really do care about your job and show some pride in your work. Det. Garrido. What do you fear? If you fear the thugs who did this, than you are in the wrong profession Det. Garrido. The streets are talking, go and solve this case Detective. Do your damm job and show us how good you really are at what you do. Place the murderers on the
scene through cell phone signals, go and pay your
informants, you know who they are. They will tell you
who is behind this. Show us how much you really care about protecting and serving your community and solve this case. Because if you don't, summertime is just around the corner.
Feb. 19, 2011 at 6:39 a.m.
I applaud Carlos A Nunez. I hope that the Detective gets your message.
Feb. 20, 2011 at 10:48 a.m.
R.I.P Junior, you will be missed. My brother was good friends with him, if anyone know any info about the services that will be held for him, please email me and let me know.. thanks
Feb. 20, 2011 at 7:42 p.m.
Carlos A. Nunez, I can understand that you are angry and disturbed about the death of your friend, but putdowns and veiled threats ("Because if you don't, summertime is just around the corner") are disrespectful and are probably going to hinder you, not help you, in your quest to solve this case.
Feb. 21, 2011 at 9:18 a.m.
Carlos Nunez should spend his time trying to make his hood a better place to live instead of telling the police how to do their jobs. And im willing to bet ol Sal will get what he asked ofr real soon fool..
Feb. 21, 2011 at 12:14 p.m.
R.I.P Junior, you willl be missed
Feb. 22, 2011 at 12:47 p.m.
"Salvador Medina gladly helped his friend Alfonso Nava walk to his home in Exposition Park after a long night of drinking two weeks ago"
"said Paula Solis, 24, one of Nava’s sisters. “He was always working, never used drugs or drank [alcohol]. He didn’t even drink soda.”"
So which one is it? He did or didn't drink? The reason I point this out is because as most of the comments on the homicide report the family says one thing but the report points elswhere. Prior comments say he wasn't a gangster but rather a graffiti artist a.k.a. tagger. The friends in the picture at the vigil resemble what gang members look/dress like. So if he wasn't one he was hanging out with the wrong people as his friend stated "For Medina, who said he was the one who’d been in trouble when they were younger, there was a deep sense of injustice."
Then you have people like Carlos up above Insinuating threats towards the handling detective. SMH
Feb. 22, 2011 at 10:39 p.m.
Impressed, you are easily impressed if this is any indication of what impresses you. There are so many holes in Mr. Nunez's comment, first of all if the streets are talking you have to be the first to admit that the streets shut up when the cops start probing around. My almost like a grandmother's real grandson was killed a few years back and sure enough the streets were talking and almost everybody knew who did it but as usual everybody became no body when the cops walked around the streets asking any one if they saw anything so you might have heard all kinds of stuff but get one of those people to talk. As for the other case quoted...unless Mr. Nunez has first hand knowledge that these two cases are intertwined how can he once again quote the street? But the biggest gaff to this blog is in the first few lines, "I did not know him personally!" Then how can one make accusations and assumtions based on what has or has not been done on this case? I for one say Mr. Nunez, get off you butt and make changes! No where in any book I read is it up to the cop/det. who just works in the area to make changes that impress anyone or show anyone how great a job they can do. As for fear the thugs...I don't can't remember the last time Mr. Nunez put his life on the line for anyone living in this community. Mr. or Ms. Impressed why not ask Mr. Nunez that last time he came face to face with a thug and did the couragious thing?
Feb. 23, 2011 at 12:44 a.m.
If I may reiterate myself. " I did not know the deceased gentlemen". Now, Tyrone and James, you guys are correct, we do have many of issues, gangs, murders, robberies, and dilemmas here in East LA, that unfortunately I cannot control. But hear this. "The streets are talking", as they usually do after something this tragic happens. And, unfortunately when you are a minority here in LA whenever something like this happens, it is usually classified as a robbery, drug deal gone wrong, or gang related. Now James and Tyrone, I ask you this. If this would happen to any of us, wouldn't you like your murderers apprehended so at least your loved ones have closure. Someone has to speak up for us!! But if you guys are ok with having prostitutes, drug dealers, crack, and murderers roaming your block, and Southwest officers drive by them and totally ignore them, while your kids are outside playing, and walking, or driving your kids to
school, than hey, be my guest. Because of people like you, your community is and will always be the getto!! South Central LA.
Feb. 23, 2011 at 4:53 p.m.
-Not hardly Impressed, I suppose that what “impressed” me, more figuratively than literally, was that he signed his own name while appearing to be a concerned member of the community that hosted this tragedy. I assumed, and perhaps naively that Mr. Nunez was offering valuable information and indicating to the Detective that there was more than meets the eye to this case. Perhaps I missed the cynicism, perhaps as an outsider I was quietly hoping that someone from within the walls of “the know” was offering vital clues. I know the character of the streets all too well; the tight-lipped aspect of “the streets are talking but nobody is telling” has very personally touched me. I suppose that reading his comment lead that, and me to believe that things had changed in the light of such horrific events the streets were breaking code. I suppose I read this blog with rose-colored glasses. In any case, I hope the Detective does at least take heed to the supple words and dig deeper.
Being much more than completely ignorant, I do know that the police in that area have their hands beyond full. As for the police not having the job of making a difference, I cannot concur with that. On the contrary, the police should be part of the change in that area. As for impressing, well impression is in the eye of the beholder and not a means of measuring performance in this case. If the cop/detective “just works” in that area then he/she is in the wrong business. Caring, concern, and wanting to make a difference enhance the oath to “protect and serve”. While I support police efforts (and condemn instances of unjustified misconduct in the same breath), I do understand where the community is coming from when they urge those handling the case to dig deeper. Life is far too fragile in this area; to talk is a certain mark for death in most cases. Police can only help so much when it comes to witness protection. At the same time, to know and not tell is to withhold justice for these lives that were taken so callously.
Perhaps there is no amicable medium between the law and the community in this area but among those that live there and those that serve there exists a window of change. Will that window be opened if both the law and the community stop looking for it? I say push forward to the Detectives, I know the job is harrowing and unrewarding at best, just keep looking for that one person that will do the right thing or at least silently point you in the right direction.
I hear you “Not hardly impressed”, I get your point and hope that all concerned can take something from this awful tragedy. Color me corrected by not having better understanding; explaining or clarifying what it was that impressed me.
Feb. 23, 2011 at 5:57 p.m.
@ at mytwocents. You obviously do not comprehend what you read. Solis's statement " He was always working, never used drugs or drank [alcohol]. He didn't even drink soda" was in reference to Diego Garcia. I suggest you read carefully before giving your opinion. Remember never judge a book by it's cover. Assuming makes an ____ out of you! Clothe is just clothe and it does not determine someones persona or lifestyle. Alfonso was a wonderful human being with huge heart! He was capable of bringing a smile to anyones face. It is unfortunate that he had to leave this world in such a horrible way. He was a great friend and someone I truly admired. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, friendship leaves great memories no one can steal.
May you rest in peace.
Feb. 23, 2011 at 9:15 p.m.
Ms./Mr. Impressed,
I agree more with your last statement. Mr. Nunez jumped to too many conclustions while the whole time demanding that some cop to his job. None of us like to be told just how dumb we are and how awful a job we are doing. My whole point was that Mr. Nunez if that is his name was guilty of doing what he was demanding that the detective not do. If Mr. Nunez lives in the city or more in the area where this killing happened then Mr. Nunez should know just how untalkative the streets become when law enforcement shows up. Over all I found Mr. Nunez's statement very offensive. Not as a law enforcement officer which I am not but as a citizen of this city. My statement as yours I'm sure is not reflective of Mr. Nava's life I have no opinion on that as of right now...but Mr. Nunez does need to get a grip and stop shredding and disrespecting what could turn out to be a very well investigated case. Bottom line we are both on the same page and just came away with two very different opinions to what Nunez wrote. Thanks for the rebuttual.
Feb. 24, 2011 at 4:02 a.m.
Credit you - this is very constructive !
May 21, 2011 at 9:32 p.m.
" Suspecting the occupants to be gang members, he called the Police Department and requested that an officer investigate. He was told that cruising was not cause enough to dispatch a police officer."
--
Oh really? In a White neighborhood, it's more than enough cause... Let a group of "gang types" start cruising through Beverly Hills or Brentwood and I guarantee the Police will respond... within minutes.
Nov. 3, 2011 at 2:07 a.m.
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