$20,000 reward offered in La Mirada road rage killing

LA MIRADA — Los Angeles County has established a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the 2023 road rage shooting death of a food delivery driver near the La Mirada-Santa Fe Springs border.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the reward Tuesday on a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn. The offer seeks information in the killing of 30-year-old Nestor Tlahuel Mendez.

“Someone took Nestor’s life in a senseless act of road rage,” Hahn said. “His family will never be made whole again, but we must do everything we can to bring the person responsible to justice. That individual is still out there. My hope is that this reward encourages anyone with information to come forward so the Sheriff’s Department can finally solve this crime.”

Mendez was driving west on Rosecrans Avenue between Valley View and Marquardt avenues at about 9:13 p.m. March 29, 2023, when someone in another vehicle shot him once in the left shoulder, authorities said. He later died from the injury.

His 15-year-old cousin, who was riding with him, was not injured. Mendez was working as a food delivery driver at the time, and Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators believe the shooting was prompted by road rage.

Investigators described the suspect vehicle as an older black sedan. Surveillance cameras tracked it leaving the area by way of Alondra Boulevard and the Santa Ana Freeway before reaching Firestone Boulevard.

The reward is available for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Anyone with information may contact Sheriff’s Detective Christopher Dimmitt at 323-890-5545 or cadimmit@lasd.org. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.