Victor Serrato was 23 years old when he died on Sunday, February 24, 2013, in Hacienda Heights. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, he died after sustaining blunt force trauma at 1804 Wickshire Ave. His death was ruled a homicide, and it is listed as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau case.
He was walking with his younger brother that Sunday night. ABC7 reported that "the victim lives in the area and was walking home from his grandfather's house when a beige SUV and a BMW pulled up." The San Bernardino Sun reported that the brothers "got into an altercation with a group of men, all described as Latino between the ages of 18 to 22 years," according to Lt. John Corina.
According to sheriff's officials, "The suspects and Serrato exchanged words before the suspects exited their vehicle and attacked him." Then, "During the fight, one of the suspects drove the SUV and ran over Serrato. The suspects then got back into their cars and left." He died of blunt force trauma from the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene, in the 1800 block of Wickshire Avenue near Kennard Street, shortly before 10 p.m. His younger brother was also hit by the SUV and suffered minor injuries.
Within hours, the investigation seemed to move quickly. Some of the men involved in the fight turned up at a hospital in Whittier, "where they were seeking treatment for minor abrasions and a possible stab wound," ABC7 reported, and the beige SUV was found there. The Sun reported that "all men involved in the fight have been identified by deputies," though their names were not released. ABC7 reported that "the suspects were detained, questioned and released." Patch, citing City News Service, said, "The suspects were questioned, but no arrests have been made."
Neighbors were shaken. "I heard someone screaming and crying, and just like a bunch of people cussing and stuff," Jasmine Gutierrez told ABC7. "By the time I came out here, he was already on the floor dead." Friends described Serrato as "a friendly guy" who "was liked by everyone," and said he "worked two jobs to care for his mother" and "was not involved with gangs."
Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated community in the San Gabriel Valley, patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It is a largely residential area of single-family homes spread across hills and valleys, and it is home to the Hsi Lai Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Western Hemisphere. Wickshire Avenue is a residential street in the community.
Hundreds of people are killed in Los Angeles County every year, and a large share of those killings end without an arrest.
No arrest, criminal charge or court case connected to the death of Victor Serrato could be found in news archives or public records. More than 12 years later, there is no public sign that anyone has been held responsible. The men in the SUV and the BMW were identified that night, which suggests that investigators knew who was present but could not establish who was driving or what led to the fight. Anyone who was on Wickshire Avenue that night, or who has heard the men involved talk about it since, may hold information that could help investigators. Even a small detail, such as a name overheard, a vehicle seen nearby or a conversation remembered, can help detectives move a case forward. Anyone with information can contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
