WEST WHITTIER — A $20,000 reward has been announced for information leading to whoever killed a 27-year-old man in a car-to-car shooting last month.
County Supervisor Janice Hahn and sheriff’s officials announced the reward July 21 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the June 2 killing of Benjamin Ryan Castaneda in the 8100 block of Broadway in the unincorporated West Whittier-Los Nietos area.
Sheriff’s officials said Castaneda left his apartment and got into his 2004 silver Acura sedan, driving north on Broadway Avenue, when a brown or gold sedan pulled up alongside his vehicle. A brief altercation ensued between Castaneda and the other driver, prompting someone inside the suspect’s vehicle to open fire. The vehicle’s driver then fled north on Broadway and east on Washington Boulevard.
According to the sheriff’s department, Castaneda was wounded in the upper body but was still able to drive back toward his apartment complex. As he tried to enter through the north gate, he lost control of the vehicle, which first hit a curb and then slammed into a large boulder.
Castaneda was taken to a hospital, where he died. Homicide detectives recovered surveillance footage as part of the investigation, which allegedly captured the suspect vehicle on the night of the shooting.
The shooting occurred in a densely populated area near Norwalk and Washington boulevards, surrounded by apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, and markets — an area known for heavy foot and vehicle traffic, according to sheriff’s officials. Investigators believe someone nearby may have seen or heard something relevant to the shooting and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Hahn announced the reward, which was unanimously approved at the July 8 meeting of the county Board of Supervisors, at a news conference alongside members of Castaneda’s family, Assistant Sheriff Jason Skeen, Homicide Chief Jose Mendoza, Acting Capt. Arturo Spencer, Lt. Steve De Jong, Sgt. Frank Alvarado, Detective Gail Durham, and Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station Capt. Jose Hernandez.
“For the families that are here today, it’s important that the public knows, Benjamin was a real human being who had a real family who loved him,” Hahn said.
Castaneda’s mother, Annel, said her “son was robbed of the most valuable thing that we have, his life.”
His aunt, Violeta, echoed the grief of his mother, saying Castaneda was a “hard-working young man gone too soon.”
Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting is urged to contact the Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
