Homicide Report > Hector Balderas, 19
Hector Balderas, 19
Died March 26, 2007 at 12:55 p.m.
Hector Espinoza Balderas, 19, a Latino man, was shot in the neck in the 9100 block of Tobias Avenue in LAPD's Mission Division on Sunday, March 25. He survived at a hospital until Monday, March 26, dying at 12:55 p.m. He had been standing on the sidewalk when two men shot at him from a black sedan. Police had no evidence that Espinoza Balderas was a gang member, but they said his attackers might have assumed that he was because of his looks. Anyone with information is asked to call Dets. Gene Parshall or John Macchiarella at (818) 838-9976.
Update: LAPD Mission detectives have cleared, or solved, this case. Two Latino brothers were arrested and charged in connection to Balderas's murder. Investigators believe that they were convinced Balderas was a gang member because he looked so much like one, even though he wasn't. They were also angry at him: They thought he had vandalized on of their cars by "keying" it, investigators said. Balderas probably never keyed the car. It's not clear who did.
- Neighborhood: Panorama City
- Age: 19
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Monday
- Agency: LAPD Mission
- Race/Ethnicity: Latino
- Crime scene: Public place
Three reader comments about Hector Balderas
Unfortunatley, many young latino men are mistaken as gang members. What many people don't understand is that shaving your head and wearing baggy clothes is a style and it does not necessarily mean that you are gang member. As for the killers, they should rot in jail.
Sept. 24, 2010 at 1:39 p.m.
drive by's are against the rules, regardless if a gang member or not. hope that this does not lead to further violence.
Oct. 4, 2010 at 6:44 a.m.
tragic.
May 4, 2011 at 9:43 a.m.
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