Guadalupe Jimenez says her father, 47-year-old Julian Casteneda, was shot to death just weeks before her sister's quinceanera party to celebrate her 15th birthday.
"He went to work all excited, telling her that she was going to be able to get what she wanted," said Jimenez. "But he just never came home."
It was an event he was happy to finally be able to pay for now that he had gotten a new job. But on the first day of work he was gunned down just a block away from their Lynwood apartment.
"He was he was carrying a Tupperware that previously had lunch that his wife packed for him," said Lt. Dave Dolson from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
It was 1 a.m. when Casteneda parked his car and was walking home, when the suspect approached in a white, four-door car similar to a 2006 Nissan Altima.
"The driver of this vehicle got out of the car and approached Julian," said Dolson. "A confrontation occurred and the driver produced a handgun and shot Julian several times in the upper torso."
Casteneda later died at a hospital.
Sheriff's officials released a photo of the man believed to have killed Casteneda. They believe he was likely the victim of a robbery- his wallet was found on the ground.
Jimenez says after years of being unable to find work, her father earned several certificates in construction and had just gotten a job at a ceiling and tile company. He was working overtime to pay for her sister's party.
"And now my sister cries because she's not going to have her father-daughter dance with her dad," said Jimenez.
If you have any information, call L.A. County Sherriff's at 323-890-5500. All tips will remain anonymous.
