Jonathan Michael Rojas, a 34-year-old resident of Whittier, California, tragically lost his life on August 30, 2014. The incident occurred in the 8000 block of Washington Avenue, where Rojas was taking out the trash in front of his home. According to police and Los Angeles County coroner’s records, a car with two men and a juvenile, believed to be affiliated with the Pico Nuevo criminal street gang, approached Rojas.
One of the men exited the vehicle, confronted Rojas, and asked him about his gang affiliation. Despite Rojas stating that he was not involved in any gang, the man fired a revolver, striking Rojas multiple times. Rojas was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of the suspects involved in the shooting. Anthony Michael Delci, a 30-year-old Latino, was identified as the shooter. He was apprehended 12 hours after the incident, and the murder weapon was recovered. Victor Marcus Arzate, a 25-year-old Latino, was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Both Delci and Arzate were charged with one count of murder. Arzate also faced charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Both suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were scheduled for a court hearing.
The case drew significant attention due to the gang-related nature of the crime. The Whittier Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office worked diligently to bring the suspects to justice. The charges against Delci and Arzate included allegations of gang affiliation and the use of a firearm in the commission of the crime. If convicted, both men faced the possibility of life sentences in state prison. The community of Whittier was deeply affected by the senseless violence, and the case highlighted ongoing concerns about gang activity in the area.
