Erik Villa Vargas was 15 when he was killed in a gang-related shooting in Lompoc, California, on October 12, 2019. The shooting took place in an alley between North F and G streets, a location described as known for gang activity. Three people were shot that night; Erik died of his injuries and the two others were hospitalized.

Police linked the attack to a violent confrontation between rival gangs and identified one suspect associated with the VLP gang. Within days investigators arrested a 25-year-old man and charged him with homicide and related offenses; police said they were still seeking two additional suspects. Erik’s mother, Elitania Villa, delivered a victim impact statement in court, calling his death senseless and criticizing the community’s anti-gang and anti-bullying efforts.

Who in Lompoc remembers Erik or has information about the shooting that could help the ongoing investigation?