For nearly three weeks detectives were searching for clues in the murder of 23-year-old Melisa Soltero. They said that the mother of two children was visiting a friend when she was murdered.
The killing took place in the 15700 block of Alwood Street in unincorporated Valinda in Los Angeles County. Investigators say the victim and a friend were standing outside of his residence around 11:30 p.m. when two men walked up to them for no apparent reason and opened fire. The victim's friend was wounded.
Thursday, family members of Soltero and detectives held a news conference asking for the public's help catching the killers.
"As a father I would really like the public's help," said father Macario Soltero through an interpreter. "If anyone has information the detective's number is on the board. I would appreciate it."
"You always think it is other people that it happens to," said the victim's aunt, Maria Elena Salvatierra. "She had two small kids. She was a nursing assistant."
Detectives say as hard as it's been to catch the suspects, it's been even more difficult to come up with a motive.
"We don't believe either one was targeted," said Lt. Steve Blagg from L.A. County Sheriff's Department. "That's why we're asking for the public's help shedding some light on this."
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
