A single bullet was fired at the family's green minivan, fatally wounding Pacheco.
"He always loved the kids and his wife," said the victim's mother, Julietta Vega, as she shed tears. "He said, 'Mom, I'm so proud of my kids.'"
"One of the kids, I think he saw the guy," said Pacheco's father, Jesse Vega. "There was a girl in the car, and he saw the guy roll down the window."
Family members gathered Saturday at the Vega home in Bell to pray and comfort one another.
Pacheco worked seven days a week to support his family, while attending college to study mechanics.
Ms. Vega said her son was working hard to fulfill a promise he made to her as a little boy.
"He said, 'Mom, I'm trying to be the best that I can. I'm going to work so hard to buy you a house, I promise you,'" Vega said.
The suspect's car is described as a blue 2002 or 2003 Honda Accord with chrome rims and tinted windows.
"It's not worth it to kill a human being for nothing," Mr. Vega said. "He should just turn himself in."
Anyone with information is asked to call Downey police at (562) 904-2308.
