On September 15, 2024, at approximately 5:43 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to reports of a gunshot victim on the 12500 block of Oak Street in Lynwood, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 40-year-old Irene Gonzalez lying face down on the sidewalk, suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene at 5:55 a.m.
Investigations revealed that earlier that morning, Gonzalez, a mother of two, was soliciting services as a sex worker when she entered the front passenger seat of an older model black Toyota Corolla with tinted windows and a sunroof. After spending a few minutes inside the vehicle, she was shot while exiting and attempted to flee southbound before collapsing behind a parked car. The suspect's vehicle was last seen parked in front of 12514 Oak Street at the time of the shooting.
In an effort to apprehend the individual(s) responsible, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, upon the motion filed by Supervisor Janice Hahn, has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspect(s) involved in Gonzalez's murder. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Gonzalez's tragic death has left her family, including an adult autistic son and a juvenile son, grieving and seeking justice. Community members and friends remember her as a devoted mother whose life was senselessly taken. The case remains under active investigation, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the resolution of this heinous crime.
