Jessie Munoz, a 32-year-old Hispanic/Latino man from Los Angeles, was remembered by his family as a loving person who was close to his mother, sisters, and nephews. His sister called him her "best friend, my ride or die." Munoz loved music, playing guitar, and jamming with his band. He often went to the Angeles National Forest to clear his head, calling it his "happy place."
His mother recalled that his last words to her were, "Mommy, I love you."
In the early morning of July 22, 2023, Munoz brought a friend, Sheila Santibañez, to a scenic viewpoint on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena, California, to watch the sunrise. At approximately 3:21 a.m., while they were parked near mile marker 28.36, they were approached by assailants during a robbery. After the robbers took their belongings, they demanded the car. Munoz attempted to drive away in reverse, but one of the men opened fire. Munoz was struck by multiple gunshots. He managed to drive a short distance before crashing. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while Santibañez was physically unharmed.
The California Highway Patrol initially responded to what appeared to be a traffic collision but soon discovered Munoz had been shot, and the Pasadena Police Department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit took over the investigation. Detectives quickly identified suspects belonging to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gang, which was known for targeting and robbing people at scenic overlooks. On July 25, a coordinated police operation led to the arrests of five male suspects in Panorama City and a female suspect in Los Angeles. Two firearms were recovered from the men's vehicle, one of which was later confirmed to be the murder weapon.
On July 28, 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed robbery charges against Luis Ventura, then 23, for the incident involving Munoz and Santibañez. Two other suspects, Wendy Cerritos and Rossel Josue Hernandez, were charged with robberies that had occurred on the same highway in the preceding week. Following further investigation, police arrested Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez, 21, and Marco Antonio Hernandez, 18, on August 29. Two days later, prosecutors amended the complaint, charging Ventura, Cortez, and Marco Hernandez each with one count of murder and two counts of robbery for the attack on Jessie Munoz.
In June 2026, the suspects faced trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez, Marco Antonio Hernandez, and Luis Ventura were convicted in connection with Jessie Munoz's murder. On June 18, 2026, Cortez and Hernandez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ventura was sentenced to 30 years to life. During the sentencing, the judge stated, "It’s extremely troubling, the casual slaughter the defendants engaged in. You showed no mercy, you’ll get no mercy." The case was officially closed as of June 2026.
