On the 4th Anniversary of the Murder of honor student, Estephan Hernandez, Homicide detectives and family members seek public’s help
On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Homicide Bureau detectives held a press conference in front of a makeshift memorial where Estephan Hernandez was murdered exactly four years ago. Lieutenant Brandon Dean announced a $10,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking the life of Estephan. The reward is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Four years ago today, on Thursday evening, September 28, 2017, Estephan sat in his car, chatting with a female friend. The car was parked in a residential neighborhood in the 1100 block of East 148th Street, Compton, and as the pair talked, unknown assailants in a passing black sedan shot several rounds at their car. The suspect vehicle fled the scene and drove westbound on East 148th Street, away from the victims and out of view.
“We’re now in his fourth anniversary. We do this every year to remember our son. Please, if anyone knows something, speak up. Don’t stay quiet so that no mother endures what I’ve been suffering every day of my life,” said Estephan’s mom, Lydia Gonzales, in Spanish.
At the time of his death, Estephan was a 21-year-old honor roll student at Cal State University, Long Beach, pursuing a degree in Sociology. He was a compassionate person who wanted to see his contemporaries succeed, and devoted much of his time to mentor other minority students. With great ambition and a passion to help others, Estephan would undoubtedly have made a difference in his community and in people’s lives but his life was senselessly cut short.
It is unknown if Estephan was targeted or if it was a random act, but what is known is that he had no ties to any gang. “He was a great individual, good student. He wanted to be a counselor. Another thing he did was, he was a group mentor for incoming students in the college,” said Lieutenant Dean. If you have information about this senseless murder, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.
Press Conference Video
