An arrest has been made in connection to the death of a 22-year-old pregnant woman who died after being shot in the head in Canoga Park at the end of last month.
On Aug. 23, Adriana Jiménez was returning home when a man shot her. She fought for her life for several days, but her family reported that both she and her baby have died.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the incident occurred in an alleyway in the 8300 block of Northgate Avenue in Canoga Park at 7:49 a.m.
Police arrested 30-year-old Walter Rodriguez Garcia last week in connection to the shooting.
Garcia had a dating relationship with one of the girls who was in the car, but was not shot. Detectives are working on the motive for what started the shooting.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has charged Garcia with three counts of attempted murder.
Adriana leaves behind a daughter about to turn seven and a deep void in the lives of her loved ones, who are now demanding answers from the authorities.
“It’s hard to hear her daughter ask, ‘When is Mommy coming back? I want Mommy with me,'” said a relative, who is calling for justice for their niece’s death.
“There were five people in the car when someone approached them and… well, ended the life of the person who was driving and wounded another person,” said the relative, who asked not to be identified.
Adriana was the driver; she was shot in the head. Her cousin—whose identity the family prefers not to reveal—was also seriously injured.
The second victim “was shot in the throat; the bullet went all the way through, and because of that injury, she cannot speak at the moment,” the relative added.
Despite this, she is now out of danger. However, Adriana—who was 16 weeks pregnant—spent nine days fighting for her life while her family prayed for a miracle, one that never came.
“There was no improvement at all since the Sunday of the accident, so she was essentially declared dead yesterday at 1:45 p.m.,” the relative said.
Now, they are simply asking for justice and for the person responsible for the killing to be found.
Finally, they are asking for the community’s support to cope with this difficult situation and to bid Adriana a final farewell.
“We are asking for your help. We have set up an account to raise funds—whatever is most convenient for us right now, whether to use the money here or send it to El Salvador,” the relative said.
Our team has tried to get an update on the case from the Los Angeles police to learn more about the suspect or whether an arrest has been made; however, we have not yet received a response.