LAPD identifies ‘green-eyed shooter’ in fatal road-rage incident
Authorities on Thursday identified a 24-year-old alleged gang member as the “green-eyed shooter” in a car-to-car road rage incident near the 5 Freeway in Arleta in July.
Luis Alberto Gutierrez Jr. is accused of shooting Richard Ruiz, Los Angeles police said. Witnesses who were in the red Kia that Ruiz was driving recalled seeing the gunman’s “striking” green eyes during the attack, according to police.
Gutierrez was driving a gray Dodge Challenger when he overtook and fired into the Kia, according to an LAPD news release Thursday.
“Our victim was a nice kid, with no gang ties or criminal history,” LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said in a statement.
Ruiz and his friends were on their way to play basketball when Gutierrez “decided to rage for no good reason,” Vernon added.
HOMICIDE REPORT: Richard Eduardo Ruiz, 22
Police believe Gutierrez has been on the run since August after investigators followed up on a tip and visited his workplace a few weeks after the shooting. Detectives later found his Challenger abandoned in Montebello.
Gutierrez’s possible connection to the killing surfaced after an employee noticed he drove a similar Dodge Challenger and began altering his appearance following the incident, police say.
“Interestingly, we impounded the car and sent notices to the owner, but he’s never appeared to claim his car back,” Vernon said.
Police say Gutierrez belongs to a San Fernando Valley street gang under the moniker “Green Eyes” and may be headed for Mexico. He is on probation for carrying a loaded gun and has missed appointments with his probation officer, police said.
Anyone with information was asked to call Det. Ryan Verna at (818) 838-9976. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or sending a text message to 274637. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”
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