The family of a man gunned down Sunday after he encountered vandals outside his Westlake church asked for help Thursday to locate his killer as authorities announced a reward for information in the slaying.
Andres Ordonez, 25, of Los Angeles, was shot and killed, and a man in his 40s was wounded by a gunman outside Principe de Paz church around 6:20 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. The church is at Beverly Boulevard and Reno Street.
The Ordonez family, including his wife and 1-year-old son, attended a news conference Thursday at which a $50,000 reward for information in the case was announced.
Ordonez and another man went outside the church Sunday evening to question a female who was spray-painting a gang symbol on a wall under the church's logo, authorities said. Ordonez asked the female what she was doing, according to investigators.
A man got out of a nearby vehicle -- described as a red compact car with four doors -- and opened fire on the churchgoers, then the female tagger and the gunman fled in the car, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives are also searching for a third man.
"It is believed that the involved suspects have gang affiliations," according to an LAPD statement.
The gunman is described as a Latino man in his early 20s with a muscular build and close-cropped hair.
HIs widow said Thursday that the family was looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday.
"We know Andres is in a great place," said Ana Mendez, the victim's wife.
Anyone with information about the assailants was asked to contact Rampart Division homicide detectives at 213-484-3634.
