Authorities announced a $50,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the shooting death of Bulmaro Martinez in Westlake in June.
City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell and officers from Los Angeles Police Department announced the reward Tuesday morning standing with three of Martinez’s brothers. O’Farrell said they "want to bring the family closure."
On June 1, around 8:40 a.m. LAPD Rampart Division units responded to a minor traffic collision on the 200 block of South Alvarado Street in Westlake, according to Lt. Ryan Rabbett of LAPD Rampart Detectives. A man later identified as 29-year-old Martinez of South Los Angeles was involved in the crash.
Martinez was suffering from a gunshot wound and collapsed outside of the silver Prius he was driving, according to Rabbett, and Detective Ray Martinez. Responding officers called Martinez an ambulance to take him to a hospital where he later died from his injuries, Rabbett said.
Martinez had been working as an independent taxi driver, and was sending money he made to his children in Mexico, Rabbett said.
Martinez’s brother, Santos Martinez, said he had to tell one of his brother's two daughters that her father had died.
"...You know it hurts so bad," Santos said Tuesday. "Please help, help."
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After canvassing the area with surveillance footage, officers located Martinez making a turn from Temple Street to Alvarado Street, and said his driving did not appear to be erratic, said Det. Martinez. As a result, officers believe the shooting took place between 8:40 and 8:47 a.m. near Temple and Alvarado streets.
Det. Martinez said officers found bullet holes in the vehicle, and said that Martinez had been shot once. Officers believe he was shot outside of his vehicle.
Officers said the area where they believe the shooting took place would have been heavily populated with people and traffic around the time of the shooting, and are asking witnesses who may have seen or heard something to come forward.
"It's hard to believe that nobody saw anything," Det. Martinez said.
Police encourage people with information about the shooting to call Det. Martinez at 213-484-3462.
