In the early morning of June 4, 2026, deputies responded to reports of shots fired at a residence on the 9500 block of Aldrich Street in Pico Rivera. Inside a converted garage they found 33-year-old Joseph Soto, known as Smokey, with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene; the coroner ruled the cause of death a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators described the attack as targeted rather than random.Descriptions from the scene said two people fled in separate vehicles — a white pickup truck and a dark-colored sedan. The male suspect was described as about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 220 pounds, bald, wearing a black shirt and gray shorts; the female suspect was reported wearing a blue shirt and pants. A day after the shooting a male suspect was arrested in neighboring Riverside County on an unrelated charge and was later charged with Soto’s murder; authorities have not released his name.The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone saw activity near Aldrich Street the morning of June 4 or has information about the people or vehicles involved, please share what you know.