$75,000 reward reinstated on 17-year-old double homicide in South LA
It’s been 17 years, but Diana Lopez can still remember the night her sister and her boyfriend were shot to death in front of her home.
“My family and I rushed down the stairs only to find Brenda lying motionless,” she said. “I watched as blood ran down her face as my mother collapsed to the ground, crying, screaming for someone to help.”
On the night of April 27, 2008, 21-year-old Brenda Aguilera and her boyfriend Jonathan Plascensia were sitting in his car when a gunman walked up and opened fire, killing them both.
Police say after more than a decade, investigators still haven’t found a motive or any new information, and they hope by reinstating the $75,000 reward, someone will come forward with any information.
“This happened out in the public, out in front of the family’s home,” said LAPD Detective Greg Stearns. “There’s people that know what happened, and it’s through either fear or other reasons that people don’t want to come forward often in cases like this. It can be very challenging, and so that’s generally the biggest hindrance, and that’s certainly been the hindrance in this case.”
The families said the restoration of the reward brings new hope that justice will be served one day.
“Seventeen years without answers, 17 years without justice, and still not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and try to honor his memory,” said Plascensia’s sister. “Finding out who was responsible for this will not bring my brother or Brenda back, but it could prevent another family from living this painful experience.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD detectives at 213-486-6890.
