German Servin, a 37-year-old Latino, was fatally shot on December 23, 2016, in San Fernando, California. The incident occurred in the 400 block of Harps Street while Servin was visiting his brother. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the shooting took place at approximately 2:07 p.m. in the backyard of a residence. Servin's younger brother was renting a room in a converted garage behind the house. A woman was also present during the incident, but her relationship to the brothers remains unclear.
The San Fernando Police Department received a 911 call from a cellphone about someone in medical distress. The woman who called did not know the exact address, causing initial difficulties for the officers in locating the scene. Concurrently, the department received multiple 911 calls from neighborhood residents reporting a Latino man in dark clothing jumping over fences and carrying a handgun. Upon arrival, officers found the woman outside the residence with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She informed them that more injured individuals were in the backyard.
Officers discovered German Servin lying unresponsive on a walkway in the backyard. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:50 p.m., having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Shortly after, officers found Servin’s brother unconscious in a shed converted into a bathroom. It appeared he had been shot either through the door or as he was opening it. He was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later stabilized. The woman was also taken to a hospital and was expected to survive.
The San Fernando Police Department, with assistance from other nearby departments, established a perimeter to search for the suspect seen jumping fences. However, delays in deploying the necessary manpower and stormy weather conditions hampered their efforts, and the suspect was not found. Investigators noted that Servin had tattoos indicating past involvement with local gangs, but they could not confirm if the shooting was gang-related.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau is handling the investigation. Despite the extensive search and investigation, no arrests have been made, and the suspect remains at large. The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Bureau or Crime Stoppers to provide anonymous tips.
