Fernando Hernandez, 23

Died Jan. 28, 2012

Fernando Hernandez, a 23-year-old Latino, was shot to death Saturday, Jan. 28, near Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street in downtown, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

The shooting involved members of the 18th Street and Mara Salvatrucha gangs and occurred shortly before 3 a.m., according to police.

Witnesses told police that a group of men were arguing outside a club after it closed. Both sides in the dispute were heard calling out gang names. One man retrieved a gun from a car in a nearby parking lot and began firing.

Hernandez was shot in the head and later died at a hospital. Another man was shot in the leg and was taken to a hospital. Two other victims arrived later at a hospital. Police said none of the victims were cooperative with police.

Detectives found several shell casings at the scene and were looking for surveillance video of the shooting.

“There were dozens of people around when this happened, and we’re sure someone knows who the shooter is,” Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division, said in a statement. “In the age of video phones, we hope someone might come forward with video of the shooting, or a description of the car the suspect left in.”

The gunman is described as Latino, 5 feet 7, 180 pounds, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. He used a small-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact homicide detectives at (213) 972-1249. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

— Andrew Blankstein and Sam Quinones