Tony Bustillos, a 52-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on June 14, 2018, in the 200 block of North Pacific Avenue in San Pedro, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the incident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. Bustillos was sitting in the passenger side of a dark orange Chevrolet El Camino, engaged in a conversation with a friend, when two individuals approached from a nearby alley and began shooting.
Bustillos was the only person injured in the attack and was quickly transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:57 a.m. The driver of the El Camino managed to escape unharmed by rolling out of the car and out of danger.
The suspects in the case were identified as Mario Enrique Gallegos, 21, and Carlos Rivera, 32, both of whom are Latinos. They were charged on June 18, 2018, with multiple offenses, including murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and attempted carjacking. The charges also included gang and gun allegations, reflecting the severity and premeditated nature of the crime. Both suspects were due back in court on September 6, 2018, as per online court records.
The investigation into Bustillos' death revealed that the two gunmen fled the scene through the same alley from which they had emerged. The Los Angeles Police Department, led by Officer Jeffrey Tiffin, conducted the investigation and urged anyone with additional information to come forward. The community was encouraged to provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers to aid in the ongoing investigation.
The case of Tony Bustillos highlights the persistent issue of gang-related violence in certain areas of Los Angeles. The swift identification and charging of the suspects underscore the efforts of law enforcement to address such violent crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. The legal proceedings against Gallegos and Rivera were closely monitored, with the community and law enforcement hoping for a resolution that would provide some measure of justice for Bustillos and his family.
