Andy Geovanny Chicas, a 21-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on August 8, 2015. The incident occurred in the 11800 block of Wilmington Avenue in Willowbrook, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. On that fateful evening, Chicas and his friend, Jose Aragon, were inside a McDonald's when they got into an argument with two other men. The confrontation escalated and moved outside to the parking lot, where it turned violent.
During the altercation, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot both Chicas and Aragon in the chest. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, both men succumbed to their injuries shortly after the incident.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department quickly launched an investigation into the shooting. The following day, two suspects were arrested in connection with the murders. Angel Mares, a 22-year-old resident of Lawndale, and Abraham Dorantes, a 21-year-old from Gardena, were taken into custody. Mares was charged with two counts of murder, along with additional charges related to firearm possession. Dorantes, however, was released after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office declined to file charges against him due to insufficient evidence.
Mares pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment and was held without bail. The case against him continued to unfold, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for later that month. The investigation remained active, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward. The tragic deaths of Andy Chicas and Jose Aragon left a profound impact on their families and communities, highlighting the devastating consequences of gun violence.
