Joshua Paul Andrade, a 27-year-old Latino man, was found dead on July 14, 2019, near the railroad tracks east of the Rio Hondo River in Pico Rivera, California. His body was discovered by a passerby who immediately notified the authorities. Andrade was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:54 a.m. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators, Andrade appeared to have been shot, although the autopsy results were pending at the time.
Andrade was known to be homeless and lived in the Pico Rivera area. The investigators did not have a motive for the shooting or any suspects at the time of the initial reports.
Further investigation revealed that Andrade had been released from county jail on July 2, 2019, after serving time for violating the terms of his post-release community supervision. He had been arrested on April 23, 2019, and sentenced on May 14, 2019, to 175 days in jail. However, he was released after serving 47 days. The Sheriff's booking records indicated that Andrade had a history of non-violent, non-serious, and non-sexual felonies, which under AB 109, meant he served his sentence in county jail rather than state prison. Despite his recent release, it was unclear if his past legal troubles were connected to his death.
The investigation into Andrade's death was ongoing, with detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau seeking any information that could lead to the identification of the assailant. They urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community assistance in solving the case. Despite the efforts, no arrests had been made, and the motive behind the shooting remained unknown. The case highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving crimes involving vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, who often lack strong social ties and resources.
