Joe Encinas, 38

Died March 8, 2008 at 2:05 a.m.

Joe Encinas, a 38-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed about 2 a.m. in La Puente on Saturday, March 8. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

According to Det. Abe Brown of the sheriff's homicide bureau, Encinas pulled alongside his home in his blue Ford Probe near the intersection of Tonopah Avenue and East Amar Road about 1:50 a.m. when at least one gunman approached him and fired several shots.

Encinas, mortally wounded, gunned it to escape the shooting. He traveled south on Tonopah Avenue before crashing into a playground fence at Sunset Elementary School,  Brown said.

Encinas leaves behind an 18-year-old daughter.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Abe Brown at the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.