Family Wants Justice for Man Killed in Front of 5-Year-Old Son

A family is seeking answers four years after their father was gunned down in South Los Angeles in front of his 5-year-old son.

Manuel Lara was fatally shot three days after Thanksgiving while sitting in his truck at 84th and Figueroa streets where detectives believe a botched robbery occurred.

The slain man laid in the street bleeding from a gunshot wound as his son looked over him, asking "Are you still with me, are you still with me?"

"Try putting yourself in the mind of a 5-year-old who has just seen his father fall to the ground," said Det. Refugio Garza of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Garza said Lara was shot after an argument and scuffle with a man who approached the victim on the driver side of his vehicle.

"Literally, their bodies were touching ... their legs next to each other. But the hardest thing, just not being able to console him because the one thing and the one person he asks for is my father. He wants to see his father, he wants to hug him," said the victim's son Manuel Lara.

The boy, who was not identified, was able to provide enough information to help detectives come up with a sketch of the gunman.

Detectives believe the man responsible for Lara's death may know the area well and people who have helped him hide.

"It's a violent crime. And we hope that this person will be brought to justice," Lara said.

"He didn't have any idea what he took away when he shot my father," Anabel Hernandez said.

Authorities announced Wednesday they were offering a $50,000 in the case.

Anyone with information was asked to call the LAPD South Bureau Gang Homicide Division at 323-786-5100.