Michael Hendrix Planells, a 29-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on August 24, 2014, in the parking lot of 13109 Borden Avenue in Sylmar, California. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Planells was searching for cans to recycle around the Sylmar Recreation Center when he was shot at approximately 6:35 a.m. He died at the scene. Investigators believe that Planells was one of three individuals killed in a one-hour shooting spree that morning in the Pacoima-San Fernando area. The other victims included Mariana Franco, 23, who was shot and killed around 5:50 a.m. while riding in a car with her family to early morning Mass, and Gloria Tovar, 59, who was shot and killed around 6:45 a.m. while sitting in her car, waiting to drive a friend to church.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged Alexander Hernandez, a 34-year-old resident of Sylmar, with five counts of capital murder and ten counts of attempted murder in connection with the seemingly random shootings. Prosecutors allege that Hernandez shot at 15 people in the San Fernando Valley between March and August of 2014, resulting in five deaths and eight injuries. Hernandez is also accused of killing Sergio Sanchez, 35, as he was driving home from work early in the morning of March 14, 2014, near the Roxford Street offramp to the 210 Freeway, and Gildardo Morales, 48, as he was driving to work in Pacoima on August 21, 2014.
Hernandez's alleged murder spree began on March 14, 2014, when he fatally shot Sergio Sanchez while driving on the 210 Freeway near Sylmar. Following this, Hernandez carried out several shootings in which people were gravely wounded but survived. One notable incident occurred in May 2014, when Hernandez opened fire on a 19-year-old bringing his girlfriend home after prom, leaving the victim partially paralyzed. In June 2014, Hernandez critically injured a man after shooting him in the arm on the 210 Freeway.
In addition to the five capital murder charges, Hernandez faces ten counts of attempted murder, seven counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle, three counts of cruelty to an animal, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon, and two counts of discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his next court date is scheduled for August 11 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. The investigation into these tragic events continues as law enforcement seeks to bring justice to the victims and their families.
