On June 17, 2024, at approximately 7:35 p.m., 31-year-old Fernando Edgar Bernabe was fatally shot in the parking lot of Valencia Liquor, located at 22925 Lyons Avenue in the Newhall community of Santa Clarita, California. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the chest, classifying the incident as a homicide.
Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) Homicide Bureau identified the shooting as gang-related, noting that both the victim and the suspects had gang affiliations. On June 26, 2024, authorities arrested 24-year-old Omar Garcia Ramirez in connection with the murder. He was charged with first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and felony evading arrest. Garcia Ramirez was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and held without bail.
Subsequently, on July 14, 2024, a second suspect, 29-year-old Jose Roberto Corona, was apprehended. Corona, a Valencia resident and barber by profession, was also charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into the Men's Central Jail in Downtown Los Angeles, where he remains in custody without bail.
Both suspects are scheduled for court appearances, with proceedings ongoing as of December 2024. The LASD continues to investigate the case, urging anyone with additional information to come forward. Community members have expressed concerns over the rise in gang-related violence in the area, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement to ensure public safety.
In the wake of Bernabe's death, family and friends have mourned the loss of a young life, reflecting on the impact of gang violence on individuals and communities. Memorial services were held in his honor, with loved ones advocating for peace and an end to such senseless acts of violence.
