Jorge Alberto Reyes Jr., a 23-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on December 31, 2017, in the parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken located at 8622 Balboa Blvd. in Northridge, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. when officers responded to a call of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found Reyes in the parking lot, where he was pronounced dead at the scene at 7 p.m.
Investigators believe that Reyes and two friends had driven to the KFC, and while the driver went inside, Reyes remained in the car. A Latino man approached the vehicle, began arguing with Reyes, and subsequently punched him before pulling out a gun and firing multiple shots. Reyes attempted to flee but was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. The suspect then fled the scene in a sedan with a Latina woman, who was later identified as a person of interest.
The investigation into Reyes' death revealed that the motive for the murder was a perceived disrespect issue. The suspect, identified as Derek Bryan Dominguez, allegedly confronted Reyes over a look he did not like. Surveillance footage captured the suspect and the woman he was with, which was released by the Los Angeles Police Department in hopes of identifying them. Dominguez was charged with murder in Los Angeles, and a state warrant was issued for his arrest on January 26, 2018. Detectives believed that Dominguez fled to Mexico, leading to a federal arrest warrant being issued on February 2, 2020, for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
In April 2021, Dominguez was arrested in Mexico and returned to Los Angeles, where he was booked on suspicion of murder. He is currently being held on $3 million bail. The investigation was conducted by detectives with the LAPD and the FBI's Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles. The case highlights the collaborative efforts of local and federal law enforcement agencies in bringing a fugitive to justice and providing some measure of closure to the victim's family.
