Francisco Aguirre Jr., 31

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Francisco Aguirre Jr., a 31-year-old Latino man, was killed by a hit-and-run driver at 1519 North Gaffey Street in San Pedro at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. According to Det. Frank Weber, Aguirre and his friends were returning from a birthday celebration and had made a final stop at a 7-Eleven. Inside the store, a man got into a verbal confrontation with one of Aguirre’s friends. As Aguirre and his friends were returning to their limo bus, the man -- who had been waiting on the lot -- reversed his van and plowed through the group, injuring two people and dragging Aguirre from the lot and into the street. He died instantly.

Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division arrested Samuel Pinto, 36, on suspicion of homicide later that evening. On Jan. 23, the L.A. County district attorney filed murder charges against Pinto. His arraignment was postponed until Jan. 30.

Aguirre was the fourth child of seven brothers. Those who were close to Aguirre knew him as ‘Pancho.’ To his mother, he was ‘Panchito.’ For years Aguirre had been working odd jobs, including construction and car repair. Aguirre changed a few years ago after he began thinking about settling down and buying a house. He began assisting his mother and grandmother with routine tasks like paying bills and grocery shopping, according to his brother, Robert Ortiz. He attended more family functions as well. He started to save money and looked for a steady job so that he could marry his girlfriend, whom he had been with for eight years, Ortiz said. ‘He really turned a corner ... he was becoming a man,’ he added with a teary voice. ‘It was a beautiful thing to see.’

Aguirre’s family is seeking donations for funeral services.

-- Ruben Vives /LAT