Joe Alvarado, 22

Died Dec. 22, 2007 at 6:56 p.m.

 Joe Alvarado, 22, a Latino man, was shot multiple times while sitting in his car on Saturday, Dec. 22, at about 5 p.m. in the 800 block of Mines Avenue in Montebello. His friends took Alvarado to Beverly Hospital minutes after the shooting. He was transferred to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m.

Neighbors who knew Alvarado said he was happy, and funny.  "He had a heart that was just too big to crush," said Vanessa Dominguez, 16, hands over her heart. She called him by the nickname "JoJo." Neighbors said Alvarado worked as a repossession tow truck driver for his uncle. His plans were to save money, move in with his girlfriend and start a family, Vanessa said.

On the day of the shooting, Dominguez was upstairs. "I had my hands near my head when I suddenly felt warm," she said. "My hands started to shake and I had a feeling like something bad was about to happen. That's when I heard someone scream, 'They shot Joe!' "

— Ruben Vives