Authorities this week have identified a heavily tattooed suspect sought in the shooting death of a man in Northridge, and announced a $50,000 reward for help in solving the killing of a man gunned down while riding a skateboard in Arleta. The suspect reportedly has contacts in the Antelope Valley.
Detectives planned to discuss both cases at a late-morning news conference at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Mission Station in Mission Hills.
In the Northridge case, detectives are seeking Derek Bryan Dominguez, 28, as a suspect in the killing of Jorge Reyes Jr., 23, who was gunned down about 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve outside a KFC restaurant in the 8600 block of Balboa Boulevard.
On Jan. 18, detectives released security video of the alleged gunman, accompanied by a woman whom they described at the time as a person of interest in the investigation.
Four days later, the woman — identified as Mallely Espinoza, 28, of Van Nuys — was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder, but she was later released, pending further investigation, police said.
A murder warrant has been obtained for the arrest of Dominguez, who is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 170 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He has multiple tattoos, including on his head and neck.
“He is known to have connections to the San Fernando Valley, the Antelope Valley, and Bakersfield,’’ according to an LAPD statement.
According to police, Reyes and two friends drove to the KFC restaurant, and he waited in the car while the driver went inside. That’s when Dominguez allegedly approached the car, and the pair — who apparently knew one another — got into an argument that culminated with the suspect pulling out a gun and shooting Reyes, according to police.
According to police, the gunman got into an older-model car and sped off, accompanied by a woman, alleged by authorities to be Espinoza. Two young boys may also have been in the vehicle, police said.
Police believe Reyes and the gunman glared at one another for some reason.
“It was a perceived disrespect issue,’’ LAPD Lt. Ryan Verna said at the Jan. 18 news conference. “It’s as simple as that — and as ridiculous as that.’’
In the Arleta case, detectives announced a $50,000 reward for help in solving the killing of 28-year-old Angel Maciel, who was gunned down about 3:40 p.m. last Oct. 29 in the 9900 block of Stanwin Avenue.
“The victim was riding his skateboard when a vehicle pulled alongside of him and an unknown suspect or suspects fired multiple rounds,’’ according to an LAPD statement.
Anyone with information on either crime was urged to call homicide detectives at (818) 374-1934, or (877) LAPD-247.
