Andrea Vasquez - latest: Suspect arrested in murder of California teen ‘kidnapped’ from carpark in video
A missing California teen has been found dead following a violent kidnapping, police said.
The remains of 19-year-old Andrea Vasquez were found in a vegetation field in Moreno Valley.
Vasquez had been kidnapped over the weekend during an attack that the Whittier Police Department previously described as random. Detectives combing the area of Moreno Valley made the gruesome discovery on Monday night.
“At this time, it appears that Andrea Vasquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park,” police said in a statement.
Gabriel Sean Esparza, 20, has been arrested in connection with the crime. Mr Esparza is facing charges of murder and kidnapping and is currently being held without bail.
Authorities said that Vasquez was shot at the parking stall area of Penn Park as she was sitting in a parked car with her boyfriend, who fled the gunfire.
When he returned to the vehicle, he “discovered blood” near it and Ms Vasquez was gone.
What happened to Andrea Vazquez? All we know so far
06:46 , Stuti Mishra
The body of Andrea Vazquez, 19, was discovered in an open field in Moreno Valley, not far from where her family say her phone last pinged and they found traces of blood.
Officials say that her body was found late on Monday night and that the victim’s family were informed on Tuesday morning.
The victim was shot and kidnapped from Penn Park in Whittier after she had been sitting in a parked car with her boyfriend.
Investigators say that the boyfriend fled the gunfire and when he returned to the vehicle he “discovered blood” nearby and Ms Vazquez gone.
Whittier Police Department say that they have arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza as a suspect in the case and charged him with murder and kidnapping.
So far there is no motive discovered behind the attack and officials believe she was "randomly targeted".
Vazquez was a fashion design student at Fullerton College and also worked at a mall in Cerritos.
‘We are just trying to process this,’ family say
06:00 , Stuti Mishra
“We’ve been here praying with my aunt and my uncle,” a cousin of Vazquez told FOX11 on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we were notified of Andrea being found. We are devastated. My uncle and my aunt are heartbroken. We have good strong family support so we are just here trying to process this, it’s hard. She was our baby cousin, just 19 years old. Such a senseless act, it shouldn’t have happened”
California woman shot and kidnapped from boyfriend’s car found dead
06:00 , Andrea Blanco
The body of Andrea Vasquez, 19, was discovered in an open field in Moreno Valley, not far from where her family say her phone last pinged and they found traces of blood.
The Independent’s Graeme Massie reports:
California woman shot and kidnapped from boyfriend’s car found dead
Police recover weapon used in attack
05:30 , Stuti Mishra
Police say they have recovered a weapon they believed is tied to the attack which killed Andrea Vazquez, 20.
Vazquez was attacked near the parking stalls of Penn Park in Whittier just after midnight on Sunday.
Police have also recovered her Esparza’s 2013 white Toyota Tacoma trunk.
Vazquez was 'randomly targeted', police says
05:04 , Stuti Mishra
Investigators say that so far they believe that Vazquez and her boyfriend seem to have been "randomly" targeted by the attacker who is now facing charges of murder and kidnapping as no other motive has come to light.
“At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park,” Whittier police said.
The body of the 20-year-old was found late on Monday night in a field in Moreno Valley after she went missing. Vasquez’s boyfriend fled from the car after the suspect fired.
“Detectives are not disclosing any additional details at this time because the investigation is ongoing,” Whittier police said.
Who is the suspect accused of Andrea Vazquez’s murder?
04:30 , Stuti Mishra
Whitter Police Department say that they have arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza as the main suspect in the case and charged him with murder and kidnapping.
Police said Mr Esparza, a Whittier resident, was arrested at his job Monday in the city of Lakewood.
He has since been booked into the Whittier Police Department and is being held without bail.
Community had gathered to pray for Andrea Vazquez’s safe return
04:00 , Andrea Blanco
Just a day before they were delivered tragic news of Vazquez’s death, her family and community members had gathered at Penn Park, where the teen was kidnapped, to hold a vigil for her safe return.
“I’ve never experienced a heartbreak like this,” Vazquez’s sister Edlyn Vazquez told KTLA on Monday. “I’m just trying to stay strong for her because I know she’ll be back.”
The family was informed on Tuesday morning that Vazquez’s body was found in a vegetation field in Moreno Valley.
Vazquez’s boyfriend survived kidnapping attack, police say
03:00 , Andrea Blanco
Investigators say that Vazquez’s boyfriend was with her when she was kidnapped from a parked car at Penn Park in Whittier.
He fled the gunfire and when he returned to the vehicle he “discovered blood” nearby and Ms Vasquez gone.
Police say that the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday.
Vasquez was a fashion design student at Fullerton College and also worked at a mall in Cerritos.
Family is experiencing ‘grief and pain beyond description’
02:20 , Andrea Blanco
Officials say that her body was found late on Monday night and that the victim’s family were informed on Tuesday morning.
“This is not the outcome they wanted, but they do realize Whittier Police worked around the clock,” said Moses Castillo, a former LAPD detective and advocate for the family. “Their pain and grief is beyond description.”
The victim was shot and kidnapped from Penn Park in Whittier after she had been sitting in a parked car with her boyfriend.
Andrea Vazquez was passionated about cosmetology, family say
01:40 , Andrea Blanco
Emily Martinez, a relative of Vazquez, told Fox News Digital before her body was found on Monday that the 19-year-old had been working with her sister Edlyn, who is a lash artist.
Ms Martinez had described Vazquez as a “beautiful person” who was liked by everyone who met her.
“We went to Cancun on a trip,” Martinez said. “It was storming, and she would be that girl who would run into the pool in full makeup and a dress. She was the one who was willing to make you laugh even if it meant embarrassing herself.”
Family mourns senseless act that cut Andrea Vazquez’s life short
01:00 , Andrea Blanco
“We’ve been here praying with my aunt and my uncle,” a cousin of Vazquez told FOX11 on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we were notified of Andrea being found. We are devastated. My uncle and my aunt are heartbroken. We have good strong family support so we are just here trying to process this, it’s hard. She was our baby cousin, just 19 years old. Such a senseless act, it shouldn’t have happened”
WATCH: Andrea Vazquez’s issued desperate pleas before tragic developments on Tuesday
00:19 , Andrea Blanco
Andrea Vasquez was yanked out of a car and shot, police say
23:50 , Andrea Blanco
Officials say that the body was found late on Monday night and that the victim’s family were informed on Tuesday morning.
“This is not the outcome they wanted, but they do realize Whittier Police worked around the clock,” said Moses Castillo, a former LAPD detective and advocate for the family. “Their pain and grief is beyond description.”
The victim was shot and kidnapped from Penn Park in Whittier after she had been sat in a parked car with her boyfriend.
Investigators say that the boyfriend fled the gunfire and when he returned to the vehicle he “discovered blood” near it and Ms Vasquez had gone.
Arrest made in ‘random killing’ of California teen
23:29 , Andrea Blanco
The body of 19-year-old Andrea Vasquez, 19, was discovered in an open field in Moreno Valley, not far from where her family say her phone last pinged.
Whitter Police Department say that they have arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza as the main suspect in the case and charged him with murder and kidnapping.
Police said Mr Esparza, a Whittier resident, was arrested at his job Monday in the city of Lakewood. He has since been booked into the Whittier Police Department and is being held without bail.
