JOSHUA MONTES: $75,000 Reward offered in shooting death of 2-year-old near 55th and Hooper Avenue

Image by LA Wad via Flickr

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry

**UPDATE**
On May 25, 2011, Councilwoman Jan Perry and LAPD Command Staff held a news conference at Newton Community Police Station to announce that the Los Angeles City Council approved a $75,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) in this investigation.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Newton Division detectives are investigating a shooting that killed a 2-year-old boy and critically injured his 45-year-old uncle.

On May 23, 2011 at about 8:30 p.m. Newton Area patrol officers responded to a 9-1-1 call of a shooting in the area of 55th Street and Hooper Avenue, in South Los Angeles. The officers responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Hooper Avenue and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the incident and transported both victims to a local hospital; 2-year-old Joshua Montes failed to respond to treatment and was pronounced dead. Montes’ uncle, 45-year-old Josefat Canchola was listed in critical condition.

According to detectives, it appeared that Canchola was holding his nephew, Joshua Montes, and standing on the back porch of their residence when two rival gangs confronted each other in the area of 55th Street and Hooper Avenue, resulting in a shooting. A stray bullet struck Canchola and Joshua, who the detectives believe were not the intended targets.

There is no suspect description at this time. The gang members escaped gunfire.

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Anyone with information about this murder is asked to call Newton Area Homicide Detectives at (323) 846-5363. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

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