Duke Herrera, a 24-year-old man from Long Beach, California, was found dead on September 19, 2015, in the San Gabriel Riverbed near Carson Street in Lakewood. Herrera, who had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, was discovered with a single gunshot wound to his upper body. His body was found by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies after they received a call about a man not breathing. Herrera was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:44 a.m.
His family reported that he had attended Social Vocational Services, a program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and was expected to return home the previous day. Herrera had a history of disappearing, having gone missing for over a week in May 2014.
The investigation into Herrera's death revealed that he was shot execution-style while riding his bicycle home from a movie. Emeterio Figueroa, who lived in a homeless encampment near the riverbed, was identified as the primary suspect. Figueroa was known to carry guns, abuse substances, and behave erratically. Witnesses from the encampment testified that Figueroa admitted to killing Herrera to prove he could kill someone. He also arranged for the disposal of Herrera's bicycle and the murder weapon. The trial court found Figueroa guilty of Herrera's murder, as well as assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm.
Figueroa's conviction was challenged on several grounds, including the validity of his jury trial waiver and the admissibility of dog scent evidence. However, the court upheld the conviction, citing the reliability of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses. The case highlighted the vulnerability of individuals with special needs and the devastating impact of such crimes on their families. Herrera's family and law enforcement officials continue to seek any additional information that could further aid in understanding the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
