LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles Police are once again appealing to the public for information in the deadly hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of Jose Villalobos, a 34-year-old bicyclist, on the night of June 1.
Police are offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect responsible for the crash.
The Crash Details
The crash occurred around 11:10 p.m. at the intersection of Century Boulevard and San Pedro Street in South Los Angeles.
Authorities say Villalobos, who was riding his bicycle, was struck by a Chevrolet Camaro traveling at a high speed. The impact of the collision caused Villalobos to be thrown into the road, where he was found dead at the scene.
Following the crash, the suspect made a right turn onto San Pedro Street, continued heading north, and then turned westbound onto E. 98th Street. Despite the severity of the accident, the driver failed to stop and provide assistance to the victim, instead fleeing the scene, according to Los Angeles Police.
Investigation Updates
Since the incident, investigators have been unable to gather enough leads to locate the suspect. On June 18, LAPD shared surveillance footage from the crash, which showed the victim being thrown onto the roadway after the collision.
The department has also released new video footage of the suspect’s vehicle and a suspect image, hoping the public can help identify the person responsible for the crime.
Distinctive Features of the Suspect’s Vehicle
During a news conference, LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno described the suspect’s vehicle as having distinctive black racing stripes running from the front bumper to the rear of the car.
“It has real distinct, two black racing stripes along the center of the vehicle,” Moreno said, referring to the Chevrolet Camaro involved in the incident.
Additionally, Moreno mentioned that the area where the crash occurred had seen several street takeovers earlier in the night. Authorities suspect the suspect’s car may have been involved in one of those incidents.
The $50,000 Reward
The City of Los Angeles is offering a $50,000 reward as part of its Hit-and-Run Reward Program, hoping to incentivize the public to come forward with information that can help bring the suspect to justice.
This reward is part of ongoing efforts to solve hit-and-run cases, which have become a growing concern in the city.
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How You Can Help
LAPD Detectives are urging anyone with information about the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward. Those with tips are encouraged to contact detectives at (213) 321-9681.
What Do You Think?
Do you believe higher rewards will encourage more people to come forward with information in hit-and-run cases? What more can be done to deter such crimes? Share your thoughts in the comments below on RidgecrestPact.org.
