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Baldwin Park Man Arrested for Arson That Resulted in Three Deaths in S. El Monte
Arcadia Weekly Apr 29, 2015
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The remains of Cheque Tires, where three people were killed after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the shop. – Photo by Terry Miller
Suspect Roberto Fuentes’ Bail Set at $1 Million
By Terry Miller and Jennifer Schlueter
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a fire at a tire shop in South El Monte that left three people dead early Saturday morning.
A surveillance video led homicide detectives to Roberto Fuentes of Baldwin Park, who was seen at the shop before the attack. A witness told police he saw several men throw a Molotov cocktail into Cheque Tires in the 1200 block of Santa Anita Avenue and then run from the scene at approximately 5:30 a.m. On Sunday, Fuentes was arrested for murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
In vain, responding Los Angeles County firefighters tried to save a man trapped behind a fence who was trying to escape. He later succumbed to his injuries. The bodies of Christopher “Munch” Jimenez, 20; Destiny Aguirre, 19; and Rodrigo “Baby Spanky” Gonzalez, 18, all from South El Monte, were found at the scene by firefighters.
Earlier, Christopher had just celebrated his 20th birthday party at the tire shop. Friends now had to leave their birthday cards and balloons as mementos in front of the shop.
The vehicle used in the murders, a gold 2002 Nissan Altima, is being held for evidence. Earlier reports of a white Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck seen leaving the scene at the time of the fire were determined to not be related.
Anyone with further information on this incident was encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
