On August 4, 2023, at approximately 7:25 p.m., 28-year-old Brandyn Rodrigo Mendez of Van Nuys, California, was fatally shot at the Metro Orange Line bus station located at the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Oxnard Street in Tarzana. Another man in his twenties was also injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Mendez and the other victim had just arrived at the bus station when they became involved in a confrontation with the suspect. During the altercation, the suspect produced a handgun and fired multiple shots at the victims before fleeing the scene.
The LAPD identified the suspect as 19-year-old Angel Garcia of Tarzana. Following the shooting, Garcia fled to Mexico. On September 5, 2023, he was located and arrested in Mexico with the assistance of Mexican authorities. Garcia was subsequently extradited to Los Angeles, where he was booked and charged with murder and attempted murder. He is currently being held on $2 million bail.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. Authorities have not released further details about the nature of the confrontation that led to the shooting. The LAPD continues to urge anyone with additional information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
