A 20-year-old man was behind bars Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting in Bell that led to a fiery crash.
Edward Paul Patino of Whittier was arrested Wednesday evening and booked on suspicion of murder. He was being held in lieu of $2 million.
Patino is suspected in a shooting that occurred around 2 a.m. Wednesday in the 4700 block of Florence Boulevard, several blocks west of the Long Beach (710) Freeway.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the victim was apparently shot while driving a vehicle that crashed and caught fire.
“Officers and detectives from the Bell Police Department responded … to investigate a fatal traffic collision,” a sheriff’s statement said. “During their investigation they observed bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle. They also noticed the victim appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to his torso.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the victim Thursday as 35-year-old Oscar Gonzalez.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives assisted Bell detectives in the investigation.
“Investigators learned the victim was traveling, in his vehicle, westbound on the 4700 block of Florence Avenue, in the city of Bell, when he collided with a pole at Vinevale Avenue,” the sheriff’s statement said. “Officers in the area heard the collision and responded. Observing the vehicle engulfed in fire, the officers removed the victim from the vehicle and began life-saving efforts. Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.”
There was no immediate word on a possible motive for the crime.
Anyone with additional information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or send tips to lacrimestoppers.org.