Man Arrested in Drive-By Killing of Off-Duty MTA Police Sergeant
Police arrested a suspect Thursday in the drive-by shooting of an off-duty Metropolitan Transportation Authority police sergeant.
Raul Hernandez, 28, was booked on suspicion of murdering Sgt. Jose Garcia, an Alhambra resident and seven-year veteran of the transit police force.
Hernandez was arrested about 1:30 a.m. at his Los Angeles home, officials said. Police recovered a semiautomatic handgun and a red pickup truck, both believed to have been used in the shooting, police said.
“The shell casings at the scene match the type of gun,” said Cmdr. Tim McBride.
Garcia was fatally shot about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday while talking with a male acquaintance behind a bar in the 1600 block of West Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, officials said. He died of his wounds at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, officials said.
Police say there is no known motive for the shooting.
A trust fund has been set up for Garcia’s family. Contributions should be sent to: Sgt. Jose Garcia Fund, c/o Transit Police Department, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932.
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