Azucena "Susie" Lepe, a 45-year-old mother of four, tragically lost her life on July 25, 2019, in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Lepe was working at a Shell gas station on Vineland Avenue when she was fatally shot in the early hours of the morning. The incident occurred around 2:40 a.m., and she was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after. The suspect, Gerry Dean Zaragoza, a 26-year-old man, was identified as the perpetrator.
Zaragoza had a history with Lepe, having briefly dated her, and was reportedly obsessed with her.
On the day of the incident, Zaragoza embarked on a violent spree, killing four people, including Lepe. Before arriving at the gas station, Zaragoza had already killed his 33-year-old brother and 56-year-old father at their home. His mother was also injured in the attack. After shooting Lepe and another man at the gas station, Zaragoza continued his rampage, attempting to rob a man outside a Bank of America in Canoga Park. Later, he shot and killed another man on an Orange Line bus in Van Nuys.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched an extensive manhunt for Zaragoza, deploying officers across the San Fernando Valley and sharing his photo on social media to solicit public assistance. Zaragoza was eventually apprehended around 2:30 p.m. on the same day, after being spotted by officers from the LAPD and FBI joint fugitive task force. He was subdued using a Taser after refusing to comply with orders to surrender.
Zaragoza was charged with four counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of attempted robbery. The charges were filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office on July 29, 2019. The case drew significant media attention, and Lepe's family set up a fundraising page to cover her funeral expenses. The tragic events highlighted the devastating impact of Zaragoza's actions on multiple families and the community.
