PALMDALE, Calif.—Authorities Nov. 22 announced a $5,000 reward for information that helps find a man who allegedly fatally shot his daughter’s ex-boyfriend in Palmdale a year ago.
The shooting occurred about 4:45 p.m. Nov. 21, 2022, in the 37000 block of Sierra Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies sent to the scene on a report of a domestic violence incident found Giovannie Gutierrez, 26, unresponsive in the street with a gunshot wound, the sheriff’s department reported.
Mr. Gutierrez died that day at a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
Sheriff’s officials said Mr. Gutierrez allegedly chased after his former girlfriend as she drove her car, and the vehicles collided at least once during the chase. The vehicles stopped in the middle of Sierra Highway north of Avenue S, where Mr. Gutierrez allegedly attempted to force entry into his ex-girlfriend’s car as she was seeking help on the phone from family members, authorities said.
One family member called 911, and another called the woman’s father, Jose Guadalupe Mendoza, authorities said.
As Mr. Gutierrez was attempting to gain entry into the woman’s car, a white Ford Ranger pickup arrived at the scene, and Mr. Mendoza allegedly got out of the passenger side of the vehicle, approached Mr. Gutierrez, and shot him once in the head, authorities said.
At a Nov. 22 morning news conference at the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau in Monterey Park, authorities announced a $5,000 reward offered by Mr. Gutierrez’s family for information leading to Mr. Mendoza, who investigators say may have gone to Mexico.
“The investigators believe that his family knows where he’s at; they just haven’t relayed that information to investigators,” sheriff’s Lt. Hugo Reynaga said at the news conference.
Mr. Gutierrez’s uncle, Max Valadez, appealed for the public’s help to find Mr. Mendoza.
Mr. Mendoza, 59, was described as Hispanic, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities cautioned that he was to be regarded as armed and dangerous.
