Residents and Community Leaders Attend Open Forum on Fatal Shooting of Duarte Man
About 100 residents and community leaders filled the Andres Duarte Elementary School cafeteria on Tuesday night (Feb. 17) to hear from City and law enforcement officials and to express their personal concerns about community safety in the wake of the recent fatal shooting of an 18 year-old Duarte man.
Miguel Sanchez, a Duarte High School graduate and Citrus College student, was murdered while walking in the 2500 block of Millbrae Ave. with a 17 year-old friend just after 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that as the teens were walking, a dark vehicle pulled up and someone opened fire from the rear window. Mr. Sanchez was struck once in the upper torso and died at the scene. His friend was unharmed.
The vehicle is believed to be a Dodge Magnum that sped away immediately. Detectives believe the suspects have gang ties. The victim is not believed to have been a gang member.
Duarte Mayor John Fasana said there is good progress on the investigation and that Sheriff’s Homicide Division, which is working the case, has received a lot of help from the community. But no arrests have been made as yet.
“We feel the sense of loss, also the sense of pain and anger that’s out there. We hope that more families won’t have to suffer loss,” said Fasana.
Duarte Director of Public Safety, Brian Villalobos said the emphasis now is on a combination of increased suppression and prevention. He said the City has added extra patrols by Sheriff’s deputies.
“Gangs have been around for 30 years. They are not going away overnight. You can’t arrest your way out of it. The city can’t spend its way out of it. It’s about teamwork. You, the community, are a part of it. Without the partnership of the community we can’t be successful,” said Villalobos.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Debra Herman of the Duarte Sheriff Satellite Station echoed the need for residents to take an active role in helping to keep neighborhoods safe.
“If you see something that doesn’t look right to you, call us. Please help us because that is what will make things better,” said Sgt. Herman.
Anyone who has information may contact the Temple Sheriff Station at (626) 448-9861 or Sgt. Debra Herman at the Duarte Sheriff Satellite Station by calling (626) 359-5671, ext. 304. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip at the Sheriff Satellite Station Crime Tip Hotline at (626) 359-5671, ext. 462.
Residents are also encouraged to help stay informed about important public safety news through the City of Duarte’s E-Mail Alert System. To sign up, call Aida Torres at the Duarte Public Safety office at (626) 357-7938.
