Rafael Martin Soto Aguilar, a 52-year-old resident of Altadena, California, was tragically shot and killed on January 27, 2015, in Pasadena. The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. at Villa Parke, located in the 300 block of East Villa Street. According to reports, officers responded to a "shots fired" call and found Soto Aguilar with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:47 p.m. The shooting also resulted in another man, a Latino in his 30s, being injured.
This second victim walked into a hospital claiming to have been shot at Villa Parke and was rushed into surgery. He was expected to survive.
The investigation revealed that Soto Aguilar and the other victim were playing cards in the park when the gunfire erupted. Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests were made immediately following the shooting. The police stated that the incident did not appear to be gang-related, and no suspect information was released at the time. The park was closed overnight as authorities conducted their investigation.
The Pasadena Police Department urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, but details about any subsequent arrests, suspects, or litigation related to the case remain scarce. The lack of immediate leads and the absence of gang involvement suggested that the motive behind the shooting was unclear. The community was left in shock, and the police continued to seek answers to bring justice for Rafael Martin Soto Aguilar and his family.
