Shooting on West Cypress Leaves One Man Dead, Minor in Critical Condition

– Courtesy photo

By Susan Motander

On Saturday night Monrovia Police responded to a call of shots fired in the 100 block of West Cypress in Monrovia.  According to Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt, officers found two victims of gunshot wounds in the garage at 134 West Cypress.  One of the victims died at the scene, the other was transported to the hospital.

According to the chief, despite social media reports to the contrary, the second victim is still alive, and as of  9am this morning, still in critical condition.  This second victim is a 17 minor and the identity of this minor has not been released.

He added that witnesses had reported that a suspect, a male Hispanic in his 20, fled from the location on foot.  He also said the victim who died was not known to be a member of a gang.

Hunt said, that as the matter involved a homicide, the investigation had been turned over to the Sheriff Department and at their request he could release no further information.

A representative of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office did release the identity of the victim who died.  He is 18 years old Oscar Andrew Garcia.

The Chief did explain that Cypress is the first street south of Huntington Drive.  The house at which the shooting took place, is on the south side.  Behind the house is an alley.  The garage at which the shooting took place opens onto the alley.  On the opposite side of the alley is Southeast Concrete.  The alley dead ends at this area.

It appears that some of the witnesses, who requested anonymity, reported that the suspect entered through the alley with the shooting taking place in the garage.

Later after media reports that a Sheriff’s Department Homicide Investigator had revealed that there was a female witness in the garage at the time of the shooting, Hunt acknowledged this.  He said that he would not have released that information out of consideration for the safety of the witness.

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