A $50,000 reward was offered Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man suspected of fatally shooting a former girlfriend in Sylmar.
Jose Benjamin Rodriguez, 39, is suspected in the Jan. 7 ambush killing of 34-year-old Eloise Elizarraraz, the mother of three young children, while she drove to her first day of work at a new job, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Investigators say Rodriguez was jealous after learning Elizarraraz was dating someone else.
The reward, which was approved by the Los Angeles City Council on April 5, was announced by police officials and City Councilman Herb Wesson Tuesday at the LAPD's Mission Station in Mission Hills, where Elizarraraz's mother appealed for tips in locating Rodriguez.
Elizarraraz was found shot in her black BMW on the sidewalk at the north side of the intersection of Harding Avenue and Tripoli Avenue, police said.
A registered nurse attempted to revive Elizarraraz with CPR before calling 911, but she was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they believe Rodriguez ran Elizarraraz off the road before shooting her.
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The stolen vehicle Rodriguez drove was later found in Mexico, police said.
"All I'm asking is somebody please help the police to put this man away before he hurts someone else," the victim's mother Connie Elizarraraz said. "My grandchildren need some peace and ... I just want him put away for what he did to my daughter and the mother of my grandchildren."
Rodriguez is Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. A photo released by police shows him with the name "Eloise" tattooed in script across the front of his neck.
Anyone with information regarding Rodriguez's whereabouts was urged to call the LAPD's Mission Station at (818) 838-9800 or Detective James Fillmore at (818) 374-1929.
After-hours and weekend calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.
