Missing California woman found dead; suspect arrested in shooting, kidnapping: cops

The missing California woman who was shot and kidnapped late Sunday was discovered useless 24 hours later as police introduced the arrest of a suspect behind the “random assault.”

The physique of Andrea Vazquez, 20, was discovered late Monday evening in a vegetation area in Moreno Valley, Whittier police mentioned in a news release.

Vazquez was pulled from the parked automobile she was in together with her boyfriend at Penn Park after a gunman fired at them round midnight Sunday, authorities beforehand mentioned. 

Whittier cops arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza in connection to the case hours earlier than they discovered Vazquez’s stays. He was taken into custody at his job within the metropolis of Lakewood with out incident, police mentioned.

The Whittier resident is dealing with costs of homicide and kidnapping.

“Presently, it seems that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion have been randomly focused by the suspect at Penn Park,” Whittier police mentioned.

Her household hoped for a secure return earlier than the tragic discovery.

“It’s a ache no person deserves,” her mom Anna told KCLA. “She was my every thing.”

In the meantime Vasquez’s older sister instructed the station she couldn’t sleep as her sister was lacking.

“It’s arduous to get relaxation, it simply feels responsible to even sleep,” Edlyn mentioned. “She’s a homebody. She was my finest good friend.”

Vasquez’s boyfriend fled from the automobile after the suspect fired. However when he returned he discovered blood close to his automobile and his girlfriend gone, police beforehand mentioned.

Authorities have recovered a weapon they believed is tied to the crime and Esparza’s 2013 white Toyota Tacoma trunk.

The homicide suspect is being held with out bail. The case shall be turned over to the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s workplace. Whittier is about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

“Detectives aren’t disclosing any further particulars right now as a result of the investigation is ongoing,” Whittier police mentioned.