Ricardo Herrera Jr., a 21-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on October 17, 2017, near East Third Street and South Indiana Street in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when Herrera and a 35-year-old man were riding their bikes north on South Indiana Street near the Metro Gold Line Station. A gunman on the west side of the street opened fire, hitting both men.
Herrera was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:17 a.m. The other man was hospitalized but survived the attack. Both victims lived near the scene, and neither were documented gang members. Detectives were initially uncertain whether the gunman fired from a vehicle or on foot.
The investigation into Herrera's death led to the arrest of Alberto Cardenas, a 23-year-old documented gang member. Cardenas was apprehended on October 20, 2017, after detectives retrieved surveillance footage showing him in the area at the time of the shooting. LAPD officers recognized Cardenas from previous encounters. He was subsequently charged on October 24 with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Cardenas pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled to appear in court on January 8, 2018.
The case drew significant attention as detectives continued to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. The Los Angeles Police Department's Hollenbeck Homicide detectives were actively involved in the investigation, seeking any additional information from the public to aid in solving the case. Despite the arrest and charges against Cardenas, the community remained vigilant, hoping for justice for Ricardo Herrera Jr. and his family.
