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.

Body of Andrea Vazquez found in vegetation field

19:30 , Ariana Baio

Police in California said that the body of Andrea Vazquez was found in a vegetation field near Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in Moreno Valley.

“Throughout the investigation, an ongoing search for Andrea Vazquez took place in large open land areas of Moreno Valley. At 11:50 p.m. on August 21, 2023, detectives located the body of Andrea Vasquez in a vegetation field off Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in Moreno Valley,” police said in a statement.

Her body was found after she was kidnapped by a suspect.

Family is experiencing ‘grief and pain beyond description’

19:00 , Ariana Baio

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.

Police say Andrea Vazquez was ‘randomly targetted’

18:40 , Ariana Baio

Authorities in the Whittier Police Department said they believe the suspect who kidnapped and shot Andrea Vazquez was “randomly targetted.”

Vazquez was with her boyfriend in a parked car when the suspect approached them armed with a firearm.

“At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park,” the statement from police read.

Watch: Vigil held for Andrea Vazquez

18:10 , Ariana Baio

Timeline in Andrea Vazquez case

17:45 , Ariana Baio

20 August

Sometimes after 12am: An armed suspect approaches Andrea Vazquez and a male companion in a parked vehicle in the parking stall of Penn Park. The suspect begins shooting and takes Vazquez.

21 August

3pm: Gabriel Esparza, 20, arrested in connection to the shooting and kidnapping of Vazquez

11.50pm: Detective locate the body of Andrea Vazquez in a field off of Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in Moreno Valley

Sister of Andrea Vazquez posts tribute

17:10 , Ariana Baio

Ambushed at an LA park, kidnapped and her body dumped in a field: What happened to Andrea Vazquez?

16:40 , Ariana Baio

It was a Sunday night and a young couple were sitting together in a car at a park near Los Angeles.

What happened next was something straight out of a horror movie – except this was real life.

A gunman suddenly opened fire on the couple before pulling 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez from the car.

Vazquez’s boyfriend escaped the gunfire but returned to the vehicle to find she had been kidnapped.

After an intensive one-day search, the harrowing incident culminated in despair as Vazquez’s body was found in a field and a suspect – who has no known connection to the couple – was arrested for her murder.

Fazia Saqib reports:

What we know about kidnap and murder of Andrea Vazquez

Local official thanks police and sends prayers to Andrea Vazquez family

16:00 , Ariana Baio

Sister of Andrea Vazquez says she tracked her location after kidnapping

15:30 , Ariana Baio

Edlyn Vazquez, the sister of Andrea Vazquez, said after her sister was kidnapped on Sunday she began tracking her location.

Andrea was the target of a random act of violence when she was suddenly kidnapped from the parking lot of a park in Los Angeles. Andrea’s boyfriend was with her when an armed man approached them and began shooting.

The man took Andrea in his car after the boyfriend fled.

Ms Vazquez told ABC7 that using Apple’s “Find My iPhone” feature she tracked her sister’s location.

“I tracked it to... going down the [Route] 60,” Ms Vazquez said. “I started following it and the location stopped in Moreno Valley, and that the last known location that I have of her.”

Authorities found Andrea’s body in a vegetation field in Moreno Valley on Monday night.

Andrea Vazquez case being presented in court today

15:00 , Ariana Baio

Officials from the Whittier Police Department said they expect to present the case of Andrea Vazquez’s death to the Los Angeles County District Attorney today.

Police did not provide any further detail other than the date the case was being presented.

GoFundMe for Andrea Vazquez raises over $20k

14:30 , Ariana Baio

A GoFundMe for the family of Andrea Vazquez has raised over $20,000 in memory of the 19-year-old who was the victim of a random violent act.

“I am asking all our friends and family to help my family with the tragic loss of our beautiful Andrea,” the GoFundMe creator, Diana Ortiz, wrote in the description.

As of Wednesday morning, the fundraiser had raised $22,055.

“We appreciate all the love, prayer, and support during this time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

‘We are just trying to process this,’ family say

14:00 , 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”

Andrea Vazquez was yanked out of a car and shot

13:00 , 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.

Police say suspect arrested in Vazquez’s death had no connection to her

12:00 , Andrea Blanco

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.

“At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park,” Whittier police said in a statement.

Andrea Vazquez studied fashion design and was passionate about cosmetology

11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Vasquez was a fashion design student at Fullerton College and also worked at a mall in Cerritos.

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.

Murder investigation will be presented to DA’s office on Wednesday

10:00 , Andrea Blanco

Whittier police said evidence suggested Vazquez’s kidnapping and shooting was random.

A weapon was recovered from the scene and officials are searching Mr Esparza’s car for evidence.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday.

Andrea Vazquez's sister managed to track her location, she says

09:15 , Stuti Mishra

Shortly after 20-year-old Andrea Vazquez was attacked and kidnapped, her sister Edlyn managed to track her location using the Apple’s Find My iPhone feature and began following it.

However, she soon lost it a few minutes later.

“I tracked it to ... going down the 60. I started following it and the location stopped in Moreno Valley, and that’s the last known location that I have of her,” she said, according to ABC7.

Vazquez was later found dead in an open field in Moreno Valley, not far from where Edlyn said she tracked her location and the family found traces of blood.

WATCH: Andrea Vazquez’s family had issued desperate pleas before tragic developments on Tuesday

08:30 , Stuti Mishra

Before Vazquez’s body was found on Monday night, her family pleaded with the public for information regarding her whereabouts.

All we know about Gabriel Esparza, the main suspect in Andrea Vazquez's death

07:30 , 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 on Monday in the city of Lakewood. He has since been booked into the Whittier Police Department and is being held without bail.

So far no motive has been discovered and officials believe Andrea Vazquez was "randomly targeted".

Investigators have recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the slaying, as well as the suspect’s vehicle, a 2013 White Toyota Tacoma truck, was also recovered.

Police say that the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday.

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.