Police arrested two men suspected of killing a good Samaritan who tried to stop them from stealing his neighbor’s catalytic converter in Inglewood, officials announced Friday.
The Inglewood Police Department said it was with “invaluable” help from the community that homicide detectives successfully identified the two suspects, Wilver Alberto Rabanales and Jose Christian Saravia Sanchez.
Officers executed a search warrant on Thursday night at a motel in Cudahy, where they found and arrested Wilver and Jose.
“Both were later booked into the Inglewood Jail for the homicide of Juan Miguel Sanchez,” said the department.
Juan was killed on Feb. 25, around 3:22 a.m., according to police.
Officials said that while Juan was trying to stop the catalytic converter theft, at least one of the suspects opened fire and fatally shot him in the chest.
This happened on the 1000 block of North Chester Avenue in Inglewood.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Juan was better known to friends and family as Johnny.
The fundraiser, raising money for his funeral, called Sanchez a “devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, and a cherished friend to so many.” His family told KTLA that he’d recently received a promotion at work after helping out Los Angeles fire victims.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Inglewood Police Department Homicide Detectives at 310-412-5246 or the 24-hour anonymous tip line at “888-41-CRIME” (888-412-7463).
