Diego Rey Garcia, 20

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Diego Rey Garcia, a 20-year-old Latino young man, was shot in the torso at the intersection of Alameda Street and Firestone Boulevard in South Gate on Saturday, March 15, at about 1:45 a.m. and died at St. Francis hospital in Lynwood about 30 minutes later. A friend, a young Latino man riding in the car with him, was also wounded in the attack, but survived.

Garcia and his friend were driving away from a party, and had stopped at a red light. Several young Latino men pulled up next to them and began ‘mad dogging’ them--challenging them with stares. The challenges escalated. ‘What are looking at?’ the strangers yelled. ‘Want some?’

Garcia and his friend weren’t looking for a fight. They weren’t gang members. Neither had any criminal record. There were outnumbered. But before they could get away, the driver of the strangers’ car got out, pulled out a gun, and starting shooting, striking both Garcia and his friend.

Garcia was at the wheel. Despite his wound, he managed to hit the accelerator and drive the car away around a corner, and pull over. Both victims were transported by paramedics. The friend was in stable condition as of Monday. Garcia worked as a music disc jockey.

A composite sketch of the alleged shooter is at right. He was described as five-foot-nine inches tall, thin, and in his early 20s. Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is asked to call sheriff’s Det. Angus Ferguson. (323) 890-5500.

--Jill Leovy/LAT