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By Brian Hews
Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau are searching for information that will lead to an arrest or arrests in the murder of a young Norwalk father of two, who had just begun a new career as a tow truck operator.
A press conference was held Wednesday to request the public’s assistance in solving the brutal murder of 22-yr-old Robert Garcia on June 28, 2012, at 11:54 p.m., in the 13500 block of Norwalk Boulevard in the City of Norwalk.
Garcia was an employee at Vernola’s Towing Service and was completing his shift when the murder occurred. He was walking back to the office eastbound on Front Street towards Norwalk Boulevard when he was approached by three Hispanic men and shot. The victim was then chased and fatally shot at the front door of the tow facility.
Breanna Cardenas, mother of Robert Garcia’s kids said that their two young children will never know their father. She asks that anyone who knows anything about this terrible crime, contact the Sheriff’s Department so that their children will at least know that justice was found.
Detectives released surveillance video that depicts Robert Garcia running toward the front entrance of the tow facility, being pursued by a lone assailant. Moments later, two additional assailants are seen approaching the front of the tow facility. Victim Garcia is seen pounding on the door and eventually collapsing to the ground.
The three suspects are then seen fleeing the front entrance area and run southbound on Norwalk Boulevard and out of view.
Witness accounts indicate hearing what sounded like fireworks, believed to be gunfire, followed by voices yelling in Spanish.
Homicide Detectives have not identified a motive for the murder and are encouraging anyone with any information to come forward.
Cardenas told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper that Garcia was the “love of my life” and that the brutality of his murder has left her “devastated.”
Cardenas said that Garcia was “proud to work for the Vernola family.” “He was so excited to put on that uniform and loved having the opportunity to work in his own community of Norwalk.”
“I don’t understand why this happened. All we want are answers and have the people responsible for this murder brought to justice,” said Cardenas.
More than 500 friends and family members attended Garcia’s funeral at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier two weeks ago. “The outpouring of love was tremendous,” Cardenas said.
Garcia grew up in Whittier and was a graduate of Pioneer High School in 2008. He had worked for Vernola’s Auto Tow for the past three weeks, the first week was for training.
Garcia was also active in his local church, and Cardenas said that he loved being a young father. “Our two children do not have a father, and our youngest son is just six months old, and he will never have any memories of his daddy,” she told LCCN.
