Four men have been arrested after a man was killed outside a restaurant in Hollywood in what the LAPD are describing as a 'follow-home' robbery.
Police say that the trend sees suspects targeting victims in prime locations before following them home to a secluded area in order to rob them.
On this occasion, Jose Ruiz Gutierrez, 23, was shot dead outside the Bossa Nova Brazilian restaurant on Sunset Boulevard on at 2am November 23.
Gutierrez waiting in his car outside the restaurant to pick up takeout food when the women he was with was accosted by a group of men and was the victim of a robbery.
Jayon Sanders and Joshua Saulsberry, both 21 were arrested
Abraham Castillo and Tyree Singleton who are both 20 were arrested during a number of police raids
Gutierrez, who was carrying a gun, got out of the car to intervene but the suspects shot him first and he was killed on the sidewalk.
After hearing the gunshots, staff, patrons and security guards came rushing out of the restaurant to witness the tragic scene.
'I heard a lot of shots,' a man, who did not want to be identified, told CBSLA. 'I couldn't count how many. And then I heard a scream. This girl was constantly screaming 'help.' I come downstairs, the guy is laying down in front of the car. I check his pulse. Maybe I could do something, but he had too many gunshots in his head. So, there was nothing I could do.'
Jayon Sanders and Joshua Saulsberry, both 21, and Abraham Castillo and Tyree Singleton who are both 20 were arrested during a number of police raids on Tuesday morning.
Jose Ruiz Gutierrez, 23, was fatally shot outside the Bossa Nova restaurant in Hollywood on November 23
Gutierrez, who had a gun, was himself shot before he could fire off a round outside Bossa Nova
Police are seen on the scene one day after the shooting looking for evidence
All four were taken into custody. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Sanders, Castillo and Singleton for murder, robbery and attempted robbery, the LAPD said. They are being held on more than $2 million bail..
Saulsberry is charged with robbery, with bail set at $160,000.
During the raids, authorities recovered a host items including a Rolex watch, handbags, gang paraphernalia, handguns including replicas, two cars that were used during the alleged crimes and more than $30,000 in cash.
The LAPD say that follow-home robberies are becoming increasingly popular and the Department have now set up dedicated task force to investigate the crimes which often turn violent.
Attractive locations such as the Jewelry District and Melrose Avenue have been targeted by the robbers as places where many of the crimes appear to start as victim are followed from pricey restaurants or nightclubs back to their homes.
The victims are then robbed at gunpoint of watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said that the department is investigating 150 follow-home robberies and similar crimes. 'People should not try to protect their property when confronted with robbers,' he said
The LAPD is investigating 150 follow-home robberies and similar crimes.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said that people should not try to protect their property when confronted with robbers.
'There's no item of jewelry or piece of property that they have that is worth their life, and so if they find themselves in such a perilous situation, to cooperate, be a good witness. … Do not chase people, do not try to pursue people and do not try to take actions yourself other than to minimize the chance that you become a victim of the type of violence we saw here,' he said to NBC4.
Homicide rates in LA have skyrocketed over the past two years. At this time in 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department recorded 251 homicides. Burglaries have dipped in recent years
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