$20K reward offered for help solving murder of Long Beach student in Compton

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- A $20,000 reward is being offered for help solving the murder of a Long Beach City College student, who was gunned down in Compton in December.

Detectives say Vicente Castillo and a friend left a gym around 1 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2014 when they spotted a black sedan they thought was being driven by their friend near the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue.

Since the two men thought a friend was driving, Castillo decided to follow the car, which turned right onto White Avenue and eventually stopped at Rose Street.

"The man walked over to the passenger side window, Vicente apologized for the mistake, he obviously thought it was a friend in this black sedan. He apologized and the man opened fire for no reason on Vicente and his friend," said Lt. Steve Jauch with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The 19-year-old was shot once in the upper body and rushed to Saint Francis Medical Center, where he later died. His friend wasn't hurt.

Castillo was planning to play with the Barcelona, Spain, developmental soccer team, which is associated with the Galaxy professional soccer team.

"He was a good soccer player. He had good achievements to complete, and unfortunately thanks to one person he never made it," said the victim's brother, Wilmer Medina.

Maria Ponce says she relives the painful night her son was killed over and over again. She says her son was a straight-A student.

Detectives say they have followed up on every lead, but have not made an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.