Jonathan "Johnny" Salas, a 17-year-old Latino, tragically lost his life on June 23, 2017, in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The incident occurred at the intersection of East 92nd Street and South Hooper Avenue. According to reports, Johnny was riding his bicycle home from a dentist appointment around 11 a.m. when he was struck by a stray bullet. The bullet was fired during an altercation that ensued after two vehicles collided at the intersection. The occupants of the vehicles exited and began fighting, blocking traffic. A third vehicle, described as white, approached the scene, and someone inside began shooting at the people involved in the fight. Unfortunately, Johnny, who was not involved in the altercation and had no gang affiliations, was hit by the gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene at 11:26 a.m.
Johnny was a responsible and caring teenager who had just completed his junior year at Diego Rivera Learning Complex. He had aspirations of becoming a police officer, driven by a desire to help others and make his community safer. His family described him as a good kid who was always willing to assist his parents and siblings. On the day of his death, Johnny had plans for a special evening, including a first date with his girlfriend, for which he had bought a new shirt and a stuffed bear as a gift.
The investigation into Johnny's death revealed that he was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of someone else's argument. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detained three individuals involved in the fight but released them after questioning. Investigators hoped that security cameras in the area would provide a description of the shooter. The white car involved in the shooting was last seen driving east on East 92nd Street. Despite efforts to gather information, the case remains unresolved, and the shooter has not been identified.
Johnny's death left a profound impact on his family and community. His parents, who both worked multiple jobs to support their family of eight, were devastated by the loss. They had always been concerned about the safety of their neighborhood and had considered moving to a safer area. Johnny's older brother, who was supposed to pick him up from the dentist but was delayed by traffic, was particularly affected by the tragedy. The family continues to mourn the loss of a young life full of potential and dreams.
