Gabriel Medina Mora, a 44-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on February 9, 2017, in downtown Los Angeles. The incident occurred in the 2000 block of Bay Street. According to reports, Mora was inside a light-colored Dodge Charger around 5:30 p.m. when he got into an argument with a person who occasionally worked for him at his produce business. The confrontation escalated, and the other man, who was outside the car, pulled out a gun and shot Mora.
After being shot, Mora crashed his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:45 p.m. The gunman fled the scene and has not been apprehended.
The investigation into Mora's death revealed that the shooter was Eduardo Ortiz, who had previously been a full-time employee at Mora's workplace, Custom Fresh Cuts Incorporated, before becoming an independent contractor. The relationship between Mora and Ortiz was complex, with some reports indicating that Ortiz referred to Mora as his brother. However, the investigation found no evidence that Ortiz was a disgruntled employee or that any outstanding loan between them contributed to the shooting. The case was further complicated by a workers' compensation claim filed by Mora's dependents, which argued that his death was related to his employment. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board ultimately found that Mora's death arose out of and occurred in the course of his employment, despite the complexities surrounding the case.
The legal proceedings following Mora's death included a petition for reconsideration by his dependents, who contended that his death should be excepted from the "going and coming" rule due to the special risks associated with his employment. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board reviewed the evidence and concluded that Mora's death was indeed related to his employment, thus entitling his dependents to death benefits. Despite the legal battles and the ongoing investigation, the gunman, Eduardo Ortiz, remains at large, and the case has not yet been fully resolved.
