David Cota, 23

david as all his close friends would call him COTA!!! was such a funny cute friendly nice and smart guy!! too bad this had to happen he will b missed by all of usssss
RIP COTA!!!!!!!!

Cota r.i.p. U will be missed by all !

David was a beautiful person and didn't deserve that...He was smart and could have had a very bright future, he had the biggest heart and was always fun to be around...He will definitely be missed by all of us, his loved ones :( RIP COTA

TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS YOU LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE

may you rest in peace bro!

para la familia cota y para mi amigo del alma hector cota jr. nos dolio mucho enterarnos de lo sucedido a david solo quiero decirte que estaremos acordandonos de ustedes para que dios los saque adelante de esta tragedia hector no puedo sacar de mi mente la cara de david i will miss him take care and u know i love you bro fuertes y que dios los bendiga david i will miss u.

From the details given & the location of the crime it looks like it could be either a drug deal gone bad or since the victim is described as a gang member it could be connected to gang activity.

(Just Speculating)

I miss you babe and your sweet kisses! Can't wait til we meet again! Rest in paradise baby... I love you!

Mr. Cota and his family are not the typical family involved in this type of tragedy. Mrs. Cota is a school teacher and the members of this family are model Christians and citizens. David was not a gangster, but a youth lured astray, as happens so often. He was the baby of a very loved and respectable family. His soul is now in the hands of his Creator. May he be blessed with mercy and rest for his soul, because we cannot judge him.

RIP lil buddy. My brothers and me will miss you and cant wait till the day we chill again like the old days (in paradise). Love you lil buddy.

"REST IN PARADISE" My boy catch you on the otherside, with Unconditional Love, your Righteous brother from another mother And Well Know friend. R.NEVAREZ

Listo (david)we had just sat n talked a day before my god its sad to know your gone..well you will be missed..you are in a better place ..you had a smile that will never be forgotten ..much respect to his family.

Anonymous: "David was not a gangster, but a youth lured astray, as happens so often"

'I guess we might as well say all gang-bangers were lured astray', Now what should we do to bring them back to the straight, and narrow?, because they're causing us law abiding citizens a lot of pain,and I for one feel no sorrow for a gang-banger killed being in a gang, or doing something he shouldn't have been doing.

" .... David was not a gangster, but a youth lured astray, ... "

So in other words, he was still a criminal.

Montebello Police Lt. Brad Keller described Cota as a gang member. Anonymous states "David was not a gangster, but a youth lured astray". I wonder which one of them is correct. As for me, I'm sorry for the family but if he was a gang member, one more gang banger off the street = no loss.

'Lured Astray' - I guess those two words would be an attempt to make an excuse for this kids bad behavior, and him being a gang-banger, Right?, because that's what it sounds like too me!!, again, because I've said this same thing before, it's so funny that the gang-banger's friends, and family are always the one's saying how sweet they were.

It's so hilarious how you people can just sit there and run your mouths about a person you didn't even know. Especially someone who is no longer here! Get a life and stop talking crap!!! David was a sweet and loving person and he didn't deserve to have his life taken from him. -I love you always David! Now sleep with the angels baby<3.

the 3 years ive been on the HR i see mostly women OR little girls like ROSALIE comment on how sweet the guys are. IM TIRED of you chicks..WHILE I DO NOT ENDORSE ANY KIND OF STREET KILLINGS (gang banger\member\ associate\regular working man) I dont care for peoples actions they led them to be stabbed to death in a parking lot that was on him. Im 27 im from one of the worst parts of long beach and i managed not to get stabbed by a bunch of shady characters in a parking lot...bad choices

damm i cant believe he is gone... i knew him since i was in 8th grade he was my neighbor. he was so cute and alot of my friends liked him. besides that he was really nice to me everytime i wud c him... he was funny he would always holler at a hot chick if she walked passed his pad. he was a koo guy=)

Think what you want you old hagg but he didn't lead himself to be killed. Gang member or not, no one leads themselves to be killed. Rest in peace babe!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But instead of wasting your time insulting and bad mouthing someone you know nothing about and who is no longer here, and are only critizing because you are stereotyping. Your time would be better spent trying to help the youth that can still be saved. Unfortunately for David it is too late and you are doing nothing by speaking of somoene you know nothing about. Whether he was a good or bad person, his family's grief is still the same and you are being very disrespectful in a time of great sorrow.

Regardless of the situation gangster or not he did not deserve to die nobody does everyone here just wants to judge when most of u did not even know this young man . Back off ...

He's gone end of story..... People please! have some respect and keep your comments.

562vert get a life n go manage to not get stabbed cuz ur day will come too. For ppl that didnt know him or his family we dont need ur two cents so stay outta here. David was a great guy n made everyone smile, he will be dearly missed. RIP Cota

I met David when I was in the 5th grade. I remember him as a baseball player and a ladies man. Throughout MOI and MHS, no matter what, he always stopped to say hello. Now, the path that he decided to take, and the life that he decided to live was HIS choice, and not for us to judge. I'm not saying I agree with it, because as an educator in Montebello, I see how much it destroys lives... BUT, God will judge him, that's not our job. My heart goes out to his loved ones, May you rest in peace Cota. Your smile will not be forgotten.

"Gang member or not, no one leads themselves to be killed." You are wrong. Certain lifestyles lead to murder and mayham. The gang lifestyle certainly does. Man up, and take responsibility for your choices. Don't act like a old woman, sniveling that you are forced to do something. If you choose to live by the gun, you will die by the gun. I'm all for all you gangbangers just having an all out war and killing each other off so the decent people don't have to be scared to take their children to parks and shopping. You are all little boys that don't know how to fight without a gun.

— Jessica R ..."and not for us to judge.".

What do you mean "and not for us to judge."? The hallmark of a civilized society is the ability of the citizens to make judgment on criminal and dangerous behaviors.

People like you are part of the group of "enablers" who refuse to make a judgment on this type of conduct. All you're doing is silently giving a stamp of approval of the gang lifestyle.

I met David when he play baseball for the montebello H.S.He was my son,s friend David was love by his family and close friends I think God want good people up in heaven and he took David before he did more damage to him self god spear Davids life when he had walk away from the car crash in arizona that was my car when i went to see my car I gave gad thanks for all four boys that made it.R.I.P. David.

My friend, though your life was short we lived great times .. our summer's in high school were comparable to the Sand Lot, baseball and friends was our lives. Rest In Peace David Cota lost but not forgotten ... (ya'ya) <3

Cota was and will remain in the memories of those who knew him as a warm, loving, fun, down-to-earth person. The Most High God welcomes all of us with open arms and love, and I pray for the family to keep their faith and conviction that another angel joined heaven. Our world pushes good people into dangerous places sometimes, and only God can judge what happens here. One love!

man, its been a while COTA!! we had great times @MOI!! we gunna miss you buddy!! R.I.P. brother!! My prayers and thoughts go out to his Family and Friends!! hard to imagine you aren't with us anymore but you have gone to a better place, looking down and smiling @ us!! Take Care bud!

Wether he WAS a gangster or not no one deserves to die. And it isn't okay for anyone to die. I personally didn't know him but many of my friends did, and I know his parents. And it's a shame, it's truely sad. I wish the best for everyone effected by his death. :(

I am always a bit shocked and saddened to see people I knew in MHS suffer the ultimate faith. RIP David.
Gangster or not, I remember this individual as the cool down to earth person he was in high school, nothing more and nothing less.

Can't believe your gone Cota...u will truly b missed. Much love
R.I.P David

sorry to the family i mean no disrespect at your time of loss. I cant help myself sometimes. I will not comment no more

damn i cant believe your gone i love you david n hope to c u on da other side its just too bad that you never got to meet your baby rest in paradise

dam i remeber i was carrying davids baby but he wanted me to get an abortion and i did cuz i didnt have his support.. but then a year later i bumped into him again and we talked about my abortion he said sorry and that he wanted to truely make a baby with me, i left i didnt want to go threw this cuz he was not there when i 1st got preagnet.. david was a nice guy i love his smile i will never forget u david... watch over me!

Cotasfriend-

Good choice on not making the same mistake twice. Any fool can make a baby.......sounds like dude just wanted a piece. Have a baby with someone who will A) support you, and B) is not a gang member, and C) will be a good father. Hint: If he's "B", he can't be any of the others.

Costa's friend,

How in the world can you classify someone who wouldn't stand by you and then told you to have an abortion and kill your own child as a nice guy? Do you really think that he is going to watch over you in your life time when he would rather have even his own child killed? It is said God blesses the drunk and stupid I certainly hope so....

— COTAS FRIEND
Wow did u really say that here? It’s okay by now we've heard it all.. thanks!
@ Chris is correct! A dead dad is not a good daddy! You now get to choose who fathers your children!

Its been ten years since I last saw david, we grew up together went to school played baseball got into trouble ... kid stuff ... he was a great kid, came from a great family, and I am truly shocked at how this all happened, does anyone deserve to die? No and David did not deserve it eather. I have lived in las vegas the past ten years but when I think back at what a great childhood I had living in Montebello David is in my thoughts. David may you rest in peace, I will never forget you, and thank you for giving me great memories that will stay with me to the end.

I love and miss you david
cant wait to see you again
your in my heart everyday
it hurts still knowing your gone
but your in a better place now
may you rest in peace sweety

regardless of the choices david made he was a young man with a whole lifetime ahead of him. A future that that held so many unknown possibilities he could have decided to walk away from the so called gang lifestyle and made a positive impact on the world around him, and become a role model for his children. I did not know David but he does not deserve the hatred that has been shared on this page. he did not deserve his life to be taken from him regardless. the whole of society should mourn the taking of a life with so much unlived. my condolences go out to his family and his friends that have shared thier love for him!

— frank castro, lets talk about the harm he inflicted upon society. I dont care if he would have been a valued member of society, because he wasn't.

The "here and now" is what he was. A criminal. Dont sugarcoat it. He chose a life of crime and why should anyone care what happens?

Frank, perhaps you should track down the many victims of this individual, and see what they have to say.

- well syscom3, in your own words 'I dont care...', you have made your feelings quite clear. the compassion that i shared toward David Cota and his loved ones, is the same compassion that go out to any victim of violence. what struck me was his youth, i do not assume to know that david had 'many victims' or if he was a 'criminal' . what i do know is that if no one cares what happens to our youth who have made wrong choices in life, nothing will be done to change 'the here and now' -respectfully

I never though something like this would ever happen to you you were always such a nice friend a nice person wuth an amazing personality I heard the news and couldn't believe it. You will be missed very much cota!!

I <3 you baby and I miss you very very much!

It was nice seeing you today I love and miss you everyday I dont know why it was that time and day but GOD wanted you david I wish I could take by time your forever in my heart and our promise will forever be..
I PROMISE<33333

My condolences to all his family and loved ones. He was a nice kid back when I knew him in middle school, we called him 'comma boy' at some point in time. It's a shame that it had to end this way, not only for him, but for all victims of gang violence throughout the world.

i cant belive almost everyone talks alot bad things its been a while seens cotas gone.you people are not perfect. and commit sins.you cant judge its in-moral,and not human. remember that old say"lo que odias lo tienes en la casa"

I love and miss david very much

i would miss you lots =]

Rip primo ! Gona miss u. Ur in a Better place now! We grew up together u we're my best primo!

i love and miss you so much!!!!

It was nice seeing you and your mom
I miss you so much i want you to come back to us david your forever in our hearts
I love you deeply
xoxoxo

'David didn't deserve to die' ... Nobody in life deserves anything. We work and make choices hoping for a positive outcome; unless you're in a gang and randomly getting girls pregnant. The smartest thing he probably did was get that girl to get an abortion. My hope is that his family and friends learn from his death and not enable others around them to make the same bad choices.

Happy Birthday Cota
We miss you
I love you sweety forever
<33333

david we miss you on ur birthday i sat down to look at all the pics we have together we were so young back then when jr was born ur nephew and i will alwayz miss you i remembered that u alwayz made me smile when i was down i love you david and alwayz will me and jr lo love you daaaaaaavvvvvviiiiiid......

DaViD, i MiSS U Sooo MuCH BaBY BoY! WeN We MeT BaK iN THe DaYS WeN u WeRe JuS "COTA" i NeVa iMaGiNeD DaT YRS LaTeR WeN u WeRe KNoWN aS "MR. ReaDY" We'D Be MoRe THaN FRieNDS...i KNoW u WeRe a LaDieS MaN N i aM GLaD u GaVe Me DaT MuCH ReSPeCT 2 LeT Me KNoW...No MaTTeR WaT u aLWaYS GaVE Me MY ReSPeCTS N MaDe iT aLL BouT uS WeN We SPeNT TiMe 2GeTHeR...iTS SaD 2 SaY BuT oF aLL Da MeMoRieS i HoLD oN 2 oF uS i STiLL ReMeMBeR HoW We eNDeD uP RuNNiNG iNTo eaCHoTHeR oN DaT CouNTY BuS N u aSKeD Me 2 SiNG Da LYRiCS 2 ouR SoNG BY LiL WaYNe...WHaT He DoeS..."I KNOW WAT HE DOES (I KNOW WAT HE DOES) SO IN LUV (SO IN LUV) WITH MY BABY, THATS MY BABY, HAVE HIS BABY SOMEDAY...N YES ITS HARD (SO HARD) OOOH,BUT THATS MY BABY N I LUV HIM I LUV HIM YALL"....iLL NeVa 4GeT HoW u'D SaY "WaTS uP MY GiRL" oR WeN u'D SaY 2 oTHeRS "CuM oN MY BoY"...I KNoW I HaD 2 SHaRe u WiT QuiTe a FeW BuT uR aLWaYS GuNNa HaVe a SPeCiaL PLaCe iN MY HeaRT N No MaTTeR WaT iLL aLWaYS LuK BaK N SMiLe aS i DRiFT oN Da MeMoRieS....

@Ev!L$id3 Fr3@k - I hop you spend as much time working on something positive and constructive as you did "composing" your post in that ridiculous writing style.

— Ev!L$id3 Fr3@k. Care to repost that using proper spelling, grammar and punctuation? All youve done is take the focus away from the deceased, and brought upon yourself.

Ev!L$id3 Fr3@k - How can you expect someone to waste their time deciphering your post?

David I miss you so much its so hard without you here i cant wait till the day we meet again<33333

The good citizens of Los Angeles that don't commit crimes are sick and tired of these gang bangers hurting our city.

They terrorize the good people in there own community.

You can read all the time on latimes.com of all the victims of gang members being killed by a stray bullet.

I won't shed a tear for any dead gang member ever!

I personally did not know David but I went to school with his sister Karen. Karen is an amazing person with a big heart and I know that David was too. The Cota family till this day is still hurting because of their loss.

Now for all of those who are criticizing David you should be ashamed of yourself and I hope that when you pass you dont have inconsiderate people talking bad about you and or your mistakes. FYI just because a police officer stated he was a gang member who's to say hes correct??? How many cops have you came accross that have said you broke the law or gave you a ticket when you actually didnt do anything wrong??? If you didnt personally know David or have proof that he was a gang member or a bad person you just need to shut your trap. If you have nothing nice to say dont say it at all. BY THE WAY Montebello cops are a**holes... read up on your news theres 3 montebello cops issued a claim against the montebello police station due to the fact that they got disciplined because they didnt meet their quota of unlawful arrest and tickets!!! SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!http://www.topix.com/forum/city/whittier-ca/T5H02UROHT1PCJSNN

The Cota family still grieving for their tremendous loss and if any of you have a heart or had a loss then you know what the Cota family is going through so just show some RESPECT you are no one to judge and like I said when you end up passing I hope no one will judge you or bad mouth you...

Listo rest in peaceeee <333 yu will b missed very muchh n we all loveee yuuu <3333

Listo RIP yuu will be missed so muchh GOD has yuu now n we all cnt wait to see yuu againn...lovee yuu ! <3

wow some of you people on here really have no lives... let the ones who knew and loved him say what they have to say and move on... it's not easy losing a loved one and you guys are coming off pretty rude and pathetic talking about someone you didn't know... the cop said he looked gang realated, doesnt mean he was... if he was its not even your place to come and jump on every person speaking well of the deceased... time to grow up please or just quit coming to the site like a kid starting up with everyone...none of us our perfect but i'm sure we can have respect..
David you will most definately be missed buddy.. memories are all i have now and i will forever be thankful for the friendship :) ... you were a great person and i know you are definately in a better place.. sleep with the angels and watch over us all.. God bless his family and everyone who cared for him.. r.i.p. Cota, my dear friend..

I was forwarded this post by accident ...freaked me out cuz I'm Latino..I looked kinda similar I think ..I didn't think someone else would have the same name as me and same nationality ....

I knew cota through a good friend. Last time I saw him he was about 20. Always hardworking and dressed in slacks.He was Just a young boy, no one should judge. I'm still in shock to know he's gone, its very sad. He was not gang related or even looked it. And for those making dumb remarks you are asking to go down the same path. Bad things don't always happen to bad ppl!

— anonymous- ... he was not a young boy. he was a 23 year old adult.

And of course he wasn't a gangster. He was a man that was lead astray.

I never lost a loved one before. I did know David for a while as kids I knew his family but this was more than 10 years ago . I don't know if David was just at the wrong place at the wrong time or if he really did join a gang. Listen if he did then he knew what he was getting himself into. It hurts me to know he's gone . But at the same time I know were some people are coming from , no one should have to be afraid to walk alone at night because some kid that made the wrong choice might shot them. It happens all the time . What is sad is that he was very young and I feel bad for his parents. I don't think that gangs will ever go away and people will always be pissed off at them. But don't forget David was a human being and he has people who will always love him please think of his family and read about the good things about David before you say something that might upset his family and friends.

David i miss you deeply I will never forget u and what we had. I wish you could come back to us we'll just have to wait till we meet again I love you with all my heart david i think of you everyday of my life and love visiting you <33333

David may you rest in peace i miss you alot!!! Your in my tougths evreyday i love you!

lol! how many girls did this guy have? they all love him, but did he love them?

did he go to bell high school? anybody?

HAHA thats so true a lot of girls thats cota but the ones he loved we know who we are and than there are groupies .... We all miss you very much and love you cota... <33333

I found out by pure chance, i went to the Rosegardens cementary to visit Dalila Meza's gravesite and leave flowers, she was my middle and high school classmate and as im walking around checking out other sites, i come accross Davis Cota. I was shocked. I remember seeing him at church when he as a kid and even thoe we were never friends or close i still new who he was and the very last time i saw him was at the montebello mall in 2006, too bad i didnt stop by to say hello and talk. wow, he has so young.

I love u and I miss u everyday

-Ballistic
“My hope is that his family and friends learn from his death and not enable others around them to make the same bad choices.”

You are assuming his family and friends were enabling his behavior. Have you missed the fact that David was already an adult at the time of his demise and had been for about five years? I understand and assume, by reading the many comments on this HR, that David was a law abiding citizen and had no ties to gangs when younger. That could have changed at the time he became a legal adult and left his parents home. If that was the case, family and friends could have done very little to nothing to help him get back on the right path and he didn’t need enablers to do so. Consider that scenario for a second.

In the end assumptions, yours or mine, are just assumptions. The difference is that I like to give the benefit of the doubt to people in general, in this case, to David’s family. It has been my personal experience that although is true that family involvement and even friendships does influence greatly on who we may become, it does not guarantee we may always walk on the right path.

I miss you so much its so hard to believe eveything thats happened since you been gone your forever in my heart<33333

I'm willing to bet that his own GANG BUDDIES killed him and dumped his body there...This crime is to up close and personal...No one heard or saw a thing but yet his body is found...If you hang with the demons eventually they will attack you as well....Better choices in your next life...

I new David Cota in 2006 and he was a very nice dude he loved to party and have fun I'm not a gang member and the David I new was not a gang member, jus a talented young man living in a ghetto city rip buddy . Whoever did this is scum and whoever gas anything negative to say is scum! David always said "sick ass foo" ill always remember that.

I miss him so much watch over me Cota