Man Shot to Death While Checking on Repair of Truck
A man was shot and killed Wednesday evening by a gunman who had been asking for help with his truck, apparently a ruse to steal a vehicle.
Uwe Ruediger Jurgens, 52, of Yorba Linda was shot three times while trying to check on a fellow employee who was helping another man repair a truck, Lt. Douglas Dickerson said.
“The suspect pulled up to the business driving a truck, which was stolen from Santa Ana, and asked for help,” Dickerson said.
Jurgens’ co-worker at a metal shop in the 300 block of Palm Drive went out to help the man. About 6:30 p.m., Jurgens went to check on them, police said.
Jurgens “was asking what was taking so long and the suspect shot him with a handgun,” Dickerson said.
Jurgens was shot once in the neck and twice in the torso and died an hour later at Brea Community Hospital. The co-worker was not injured.
The assailant fled in a car stolen from the co-worker. Police identified him as Ruben Sonny Martinez, 21, about 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds. He was wearing a blue sweater with blue jeans and a dark cap.
The car is a red Oldsmobile Delta 88 with California license plate 339USD, police said. Investigators are asking anyone with information of their whereabouts to call (714) 990-7623.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.