Baldwin Park

Search Continues for 3 Suspects in South El Monte Tire Shop Fire Murders

Investigators are due to release new information on those wanted in connection with the deadly April 25 fire

Detectives continue to look for three outstanding suspects wanted in connection with the deaths of three teenagers who were killed in a fire at a South El Monte tire shop last month.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators released new information Tuesday in connection with the deadly April 25 fire that claimed the lives of Carlos Jimenez, Destiny Aguirre, both 18, and 17-year-old Rodrigo Gonzalez.

"All she ever tried to do was to try and make everyone come together as a happy family, all she wanted was happiness," Alisha Gonzalez said, a family friend of Aguirre's. "They took her from her beautiful angels. She has two beautiful baby girls that are never going to be able to see the light of their mom."

Sheriff's homicide detectives arrested Roberto Fuentes, 19, and charged him with murder in connection to the teens' deaths.

Surveillance images helped detectives identify a vehicle that led them to Fuentes, of Baldwin Park. The car, a gold-colored 2003 Nissan Altima, was held for evidence.

Nearly a month after the horrific alleged crime, officials are asking for the public's help to find the three remaining suspects; including, 18-year-old Mario Godina, 19-year-old German Monrreal and 20-year-old Estevan Castillo.

Surveillance video showed several young men, who according to police, are the one's responsible for igniting the deadly inferno.

According to police, Aguirre, Jimenez and Gonzalez were at a tire shop on the 1200 block of Santa Anita Avenue celebrating a birthday. Authorities said the suspects were there as well, although, they left at one point and returned, allegedly hurling Molotov cocktails into the business that started the fire.

Police could not say what could have triggered such a heinous act.

However, they did say, they believed the outstanding suspects may have fled Southern California and they were also looking for a person of interest.

"And in the footage, there is a fifth person. This person is considered a person of interest at this time, somebody who we are very much interested in speaking with." Homicide Lt. Vic Lewandowski said. "We only know that person as Jorge and in the footage, he is the only one wearing sunglasses."

Firefighters tried in vain to save a badly burned man from tire shop.

He was trapped behind a locked industrial fence and tried to escape, but was overcome by the flames before firefighters could break through to him, according to officials.

Two other bodies were later found at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

A firefighter suffered burns to his face during the rescue attempt.

Anyone with information is asked to call 323-267-4800.

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