Henry Sanchez, a 19-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on February 7, 2016, near Echandia Street and East Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. when Sanchez, along with Maria Cordova and a 20-year-old man, was in a white sedan stopped at the intersection. A black SUV approached, and a person exited the passenger side, running up to the group and opening fire.
The SUV then fled west on East Cesar Chavez Avenue.
Sanchez, who was driving, attempted to escape but was struck by the gunfire. His car eventually collided with a parked van several blocks away at the intersection of Echandia Street and Pleasant Avenue, causing the vehicle to flip and crash into an unoccupied home. Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene. Maria Cordova, the front passenger, was also killed in the crash due to blunt-force injuries, while the third passenger survived with minor injuries.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched an investigation into the shooting, suspecting it to be gang-related. Despite releasing descriptions of two suspects, one believed to be a young adult Latino male between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall wearing dark clothing, and the other only identified as male, no arrests have been made. The LAPD continues to seek information from the public to solve the case, urging anyone with details to contact Hollenbeck detectives or Crime Stoppers.
The case remains open, with the community and law enforcement working together to bring justice for Henry Sanchez and Maria Cordova. The tragic event highlights the ongoing issues of gang violence and the impact it has on families and neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
