On October 16, 2023, at approximately 1:40 a.m., 32-year-old Fidel Padilla was fatally shot outside his residence on the 1000 block of Kellwil Way in Duarte, California. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies arrived to find Padilla suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Padilla, a father of four children aged 7, 8, 11, and 12, had reportedly stepped outside his home when he was attacked. Family members recounted that he returned inside after being shot, succumbing to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The assailant fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Surveillance footage captured a vehicle speeding away from the location, but as of May 2024, authorities had not released a detailed description of the suspect or the vehicle involved. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no weapon was recovered at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the case and has urged anyone with information to contact their Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Padilla's family remains devastated by the loss and is seeking justice for his untimely death. His sister, Janet, expressed the family's grief, stating, "No kids should ever see their dad on the floor... We just want answers and justice."
