Homicide Report > UPDATED: Miguel Alvarenga, 18
UPDATED: Miguel Alvarenga, 18
Died March 5, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.
Miguel Alvarenga, an 18-year-old Latino, died of blunt force trauma Friday, March 5, the day after he was hit by a car while fleeing an attempted robbery in the 7200 block of North Lurline Avenue in Winnetka, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
[Updated March 18: The Times initially reported Alvarenga was approached by a male on a bicycle who attempted to rob him at knifepoint, based on information provided by the Los Angeles Police Department. A police news release following Alvarenga’s death said he had been struck by a passing car and fatally wounded after he tried to run away from the assailant.
New developments in the case, however, have significantly changed the police account of the incident. Authorities now believe Alvarenga was the one who intended to commit a robbery. Det. Dave Peteque of the LAPD's Topanga Division said that Alvarenga and a friend, an 18-year-old Latino, were driving around Winnetka in a car with the intent to commit robbery on Thursday, March 4. About 8 p.m., Alvarenga and his companion observed a Latino on a bicycle and parked their car on a side street. Alvarenga approached the individual, pulled him off the bicycle and tried to rob him, Peteque said. The victim produced a knife and Alvarenga ran away. Alvarenga was hit by a car and died, Peteque said.
The 18-year-old Latino who was with Alvarenga told investigators he wanted no part in the robbery. While Alvarenga accosted the man on the bicycle, the friend watched and then hid until the police arrived at the scene, according to police. He was taken in for questioning but has not been arrested.
Peteque said he has presented the findings to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office and is waiting to see whether prosecutors decide to charge the man with robbery or murder.
Investigators are still looking for the man on the bicycle, although Peteque believes he will not come forward.]
Anyone with information about the identity of the victim or details about incident is asked to call the Topanga Area homicide detectives at (818) 756-3363.
—Sarah Ardalani
21 reader comments about Miguel Alvarenga
r.i.p. my brother you were the only true friend i had and now your gone and left me behind with the pain that no one will ever understand i hope you are somewhere without all the drama homie but in this world of grief and lies you were lied to from the begining screw the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! besides what do i have left i used to think heaven was real and now i know only hell exist .this is hell 818
April 2, 2010 at 11:32 p.m.
mickey boy, YOu have the exact life u want! Instead of hating the world make it better! Your friend chose his fait you can do the same!
April 6, 2010 at 12:47 p.m.
I figure the guy would have ended up in jail or dead. I am sorry for the pain and sadness that his family will bear, but the guy reaps what he sows. He should have tried to better his life instead of preying on victims to terrorize. So sad, but I would it rather be this guy then his victim....
April 12, 2010 at 2:08 p.m.
It seems the deceased chose a life of crime and paid the price for it.
No tears from me. I hope his friend is telling the truth, learned a brutal lesson and decides to chose his friends wisely.
April 12, 2010 at 4:12 p.m.
This story made me laugh. What a putz! That's what he gets for his stupidity. Better him than the guy he tried to rob. Why can't this happen more often?
April 12, 2010 at 7:28 p.m.
As they say in the "hood." " Rest in pieces homie."
April 19, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.
The kid took an ill considered risk and paid a terrible price; sadly, it happens. This was not justice, even of a coincidental sort-- the punishment is clearly in excess of the crime.
You who are making glib and judgmental comments are likely to someday find yourselves in over your heads some day-- I'm not sure why, but it seems that people like you end up becoming the objects of your own jokes eventually-- and it doesn't always take long for it to happen.
April 24, 2010 at 4:09 a.m.
Mickey Boy-- I'm sorry for your loss-- it seems like an especially heavy one for you. I sincerely hope you are able to hang in and make new friends-- it may take time, and if it does, I hope you'll wait it out. God Bless You
April 24, 2010 at 4:12 a.m.
dmerrin10000, what do you mean "end up becoming the objects of your own jokes "?
For a huge majority of the people of this state, criminal conduct is not acceptable behavior they will engage in.
April 24, 2010 at 10:55 p.m.
— dmerrin10000
The only one's making glib and judgemental comments are idiots like you that assume all homies go to heaven. Who's making jokes anyway?
April 29, 2010 at 9:04 p.m.
Listen MM first of who are you to judge and say lame as comments. If his death makes you laugh then you dont have a heart we are NO BODY TO JUDEG THIS YOUNG KIDS DEATH. We should just keep our respect to the family and love ones who are mourning their love ones death.
LEARN SOME RESPECT FOR THE DEAD AND THE LOVE ONES.
June 5, 2010 at 8:56 p.m.
miguel I've known you for the longest since we we're little kids and now we're not in the same world, we've been through a lot, we'll all miss you R.I.P. homie
Aug. 24, 2010 at 8:50 p.m.
My family member was murdered as a result of a Home Invasion Robbery. I'm glad this SCUM is dead. Better him than the victim! He would NEVER learn if caught and re-released into to world.
Dec. 7, 2010 at 11:03 p.m.
-EM
The statement you posted is idiotic and heartless. You should reevaluate your outlook. The perpetrator was a child in serious need of guidance not death. We all know what he did was wrong but you should never wish death on another human being especially a misguided child. As a result of he's bad choices he lost his life but none of us have a crystal ball to read the future so who knows what this kid could have become. I am very sorry you lost your family member to a homicide and I understand and share your anger towards criminals but we can you use our anger to help other young men make better choices rather than celebrating there deaths. We have to combat the negativity with positivity in order to make a change.
Dec. 9, 2010 at 3:24 a.m.
everything in life has a price, you play with fire you are eventually going to get burn!
Dec. 13, 2010 at 4:48 p.m.
The kid did not deserve to die like that
I don't care if he was trying to rob somebody for a bicycle only a fool would rejoice over this tragedy no mateer who is wrong and right if we all got what we deserve we all might be 6ft under and the he was only 18
Dec. 13, 2010 at 10:25 p.m.
dang have sum respect for the boii rip homie
Dec. 14, 2010 at 5:57 a.m.
you guy dont even know mickey since the age of 9 i wasup homie you fools waste words so dont speak on it his real friend would of told you this is a false story miguel received money from his pops evry week 200$ exact he had no reason in the world to commit robbery so be quiet yall dont know nothing fake haters im out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan. 14, 2011 at 9:14 p.m.
All you lowlifes need to get on with your shiiz forget you and whay you gotta say rest in piss those who hate
Aug. 20, 2011 at 12:26 a.m.
@MM
I knew him close, he was in need at the time and even though we saw his intentions as unacceptable, in his shoes while in desperate need of help I have done the same. I'm not one to judge but someone who thinks that way obviously has never been in need the same way me and miguel were raised.
June 5, 2012 at 4:03 a.m.
another useless scum bag off of the streets...
Dec. 4, 2012 at 1:49 p.m.
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