Pedro Mendez, 26

Died Nov. 18, 2010

Pedro Mendez, a 26-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Thursday, Nov. 18, in the 7100 block of Whitsett Avenue in Valley Glen, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Mendez was discovered in an alley shortly after 1 a.m. by a Los Angeles Department of Transportation officer driving around looking for violations, said Det. Kevin Royce of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division, who is handling the investigation.

Police were called and Mendez was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. According to coroner's records, Mendez had been shot several times.

Royce said it was unknown if the shooting was gang-related.

Surveillance footage shows what appears to be a Latino in his early 20s wearing a striped shirt and a second Latino wearing all black clothing fleeing the scene after the shooting.

Investigators have provided a sketch of the man wearing the striped shirt.

Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the assailants is asked to contact detectives at (818) 623-4075. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

— Sarah Ardalani

Top photo: Two men are shown running from the scene after shooting Pedro Mendez.

Credit: LAPD

Bottom photo: A sketch of a man believed to have shot Pedro Mendez.

Credit: LAPD