Noel Velasco, 26

Died Aug. 9, 2007 at 9:56 a.m.

Noel Velazco, 26, a Latino man, was killed in a drive-by shooting about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, in the 800 block of W. 43rd St. near Vermont Avenue. The death in the LAPD's Southwest Division took place at 9:56 a.m. The suspects were described as three Latino men or youths in a gray Buick Regal.

In the days after his death, family members remembered him for his outsized personality, easy friendships and ears that stuck out. He had grown up in Los Angeles and was the father of three. Detectives called this a gang homicide. But Velazco also had a life as working man. He had a job as a house painter.

His twin brother Joel Velazco was also murdered about six years ago, the family said. His parents now have only one remaining son. "After this pain, we can lose nothing else," said his mother, right. She had to be hospitalized from stress after losing the second of her three sons to homicide. "God is in charge. Only he is in charge," she said. "I just ask God that the violence end."