Michael Hendrix Planells, a 29-year-old Latino man, was tragically shot and killed on August 24, 2014, in the parking lot of 13109 Borden Avenue in Sylmar, California. According to investigators, Planells was searching for cans to recycle around the Sylmar Recreation Center when he was fatally shot at approximately 6:35 a.m. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
His death was part of a larger, seemingly random shooting spree that occurred in the Pacoima-San Fernando area that morning.
Authorities believe Planells was one of three victims killed within an hour during the violent rampage. Mariana Franco, a 23-year-old woman, was shot and killed around 5:50 a.m. while riding in a car with her family on their way to early morning Mass. Additionally, Gloria Tovar, a 59-year-old woman, was fatally shot at approximately 6:45 a.m. while sitting in her car, waiting to drive a friend to church. These killings were part of a broader series of attacks that terrorized the San Fernando Valley between March and August of 2014.
The suspect in these shootings, Alexander Hernandez, a 34-year-old man from Sylmar, was charged with five counts of capital murder and ten counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors allege that Hernandez shot at 15 people during his spree, killing five and injuring eight. His attacks were indiscriminate, targeting individuals in their vehicles and public spaces. Among his other victims were Sergio Sanchez, a 35-year-old man who was killed while driving home from work on March 14, 2014, and Gildardo Morales, a 48-year-old man who was fatally shot while driving to work in Pacoima on August 21, 2014.
Hernandez was eventually apprehended and charged for his crimes. His case became widely known as part of the 'Valley Killer' shooting spree, which left the community in fear for months. Law enforcement placed Planells' autopsy under a security hold, meaning further details regarding his injuries and cause of death were not immediately available. However, the charges against Hernandez indicate that Planells' death was part of a larger pattern of violence that ultimately led to the suspect receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
