Unsolved Compton homicide leaves family seeking closure

Thursday, February 25, 2016
Unsolved Compton homicide leaves family seeking answers
The unsolved killing of a father of four in Compton has left his grieving family seeking answers.

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- It's been eight months since Carlos Ortiz, a father of four, was gunned down while riding his bike in a Compton neighborhood.

His grieving family is still searching for answers, while police say they have few leads on the killers.

"He was my mother's first child, her only son, and he was the best dad ever," said Ortiz's sister, who asked that her name not be used. "He lived for his children."

On June 9, 2015, Ortiz was riding his bike on Santa Fe Avenue in Compton when a black Audi sedan with two men inside pulled up next to him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

One man got out of the car and opened fire, hitting Ortiz multiple times and killing him, then jumped back in the car and drove away northbound.

Investigators don't believe the shooting was gang-related, but they have not been able to identify any suspects.

"We don't know the reason, the motivation," said Lt. Steve Jauch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau. "There are all kinds of scenarios that we're considering but again we are going to hopefully reach out to somebody in the neighborhood who knows something and they'll contact us and we can go from there."

Investigators are asking anyone with information to call the Sheriff's Department at (323)890-5500 or provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (800)222-8477.

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