Jose Sierra, 28

Died May 24, 2010 at 4:41 p.m.

Jose Sierra, a 28-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, May 24, in the 8100 block of Madison Avenue in South Gate, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Sierra was with a friend about 4:20 p.m. when he walked to the rear of an apartment to urinate, said Sheriff Homicide Detective Eddie Brown, who is handling the investigation.

While Sierra was behind the building, his friend heard three gunshots, Brown said. The friend ran to Sierra and saw that he'd been shot several times.

Authorities were called and Sierra was pronounced dead at the scene, Brown said.

A citizen in the area saw the suspected shooter running and flagged down South Gate police who had been called to the area after residents reported gunshots, Brown said. Officers detained the man, later identified as Mauricio Ortiz Martinez, a 22-year-old Latino.

Martinez was arrested and is currently in custody on a parole violation. Brown said he expects prosecutors this week to charge Morales with Sierra's murder.

Sierra, his friend and Martinez are all gang members, Brown said, and he believes the shooting was gang-related.

Anyone with additional about the incident is asked to contact Detective Brown at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

— Sarah Ardalani