On April 15, 2023, 39-year-old Juan Francisco Lopez-Suarez was fatally shot in Northridge, Los Angeles, while painting over gang-related graffiti. Employed to remove the graffiti for extra income, Lopez-Suarez was working near 19105 Parthenia Street when the incident occurred. The assailant, identified as 24-year-old Jamal Jackson, allegedly confronted Lopez-Suarez and others before opening fire with a handgun, striking Lopez-Suarez multiple times in the chest.
Lopez-Suarez was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Jackson, a known gang member and convicted felon on probation at the time, was arrested on April 16, 2023. He was charged with one count of murder, four counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges included special allegations of personally using a handgun and inflicting great bodily injury. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Jackson vandalizing the building with graffiti earlier that day; he returned later and, upon seeing his graffiti being painted over, initiated the shooting.
In addition to Lopez-Suarez, three other individuals present at the scene sustained injuries from the shooting. One of these victims, identified as 69-year-old Benjamin Marin Sr., succumbed to his injuries in June 2023, marking a second fatality linked to the incident. The other two victims survived after receiving medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that none of the victims, including Lopez-Suarez, had any gang affiliations; they were hired to paint over the graffiti and had no prior connection to Jackson.
Jackson's arraignment was initially scheduled for May 23, 2023, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch. He was held without bail pending trial. The case drew significant attention due to the senseless nature of the violence, as Lopez-Suarez had reportedly taken the job to earn extra money to send to his daughter in Nicaragua for her birthday.
