Cancer survivor fatally shot outside home in Lennox

LENNOX, Calif. (KABC) -- Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives are asking the public for help in solving a shooting in Lennox that left a 23-year-old man dead Sunday.

Gerardo Gomez was fatally shot at about 9 p.m. in the 4100 block of West 105th Street.

"Everything about that kid was good, nothing bad about that kid, wouldn't even harm a fly," said Gomez's friend, who is now concerned about his own safety and didn't want to be identified.

An autopsy completed Tuesday revealed Gomez died of a gunshot wound to his neck.

Witnesses told deputies that Gomez was moving his car when another car with two men, who police identified as gang members, pulled up next to him.

"One of the suspects asked the victim what gang he was from and then a struggle ensued," said Deputy Guillermina Saldana of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "During the struggle, the second suspect shot the victim and then the two suspects drove off."

Detectives are now looking for four men between 20 and 25 years old. Their car was reported as a dark-colored sedan. A murder weapon was not recovered.

Gomez was the youngest of three children. His friend, who wished to remain anonymous, says he was working full-time at a grocery store in Orange County and living at home to help out his parents. He says Gomez was also a cancer survivor.

"He was a leukemia patient. He survived it. He battled it for three years, beat it at 21. Unfortunately, you know, this tragedy had to happen to him. It was a senseless act of violence," Gomez's friend said.

He says he misses his friend's smile and positive attitude.

"He was proud to get his life back after battling leukemia," Gomez's friend said.

Meanwhile, Gomez's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. You can donate here: www.gofundme.com/kkla48.

Instigators said that while the suspects are gang members, Gomez was not in a gang. Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.