Redondo Police, FBI ask public to help find murder suspect

Bonnie Reynolds, mother of the deceased, showed a photo of herself with her son at the press conference on Tuesday.

Bonnie Reynolds, mother of the deceased, showed a photo of herself with her son at the press conference on Tuesday. Photo by Alyssa Morin.

Eleven months after Bobby Reynolds  was shot to death on a Redondo Beach sidewalk, police and the FBI are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a gang member suspected in the murder.

The Redondo Beach Police Department and the FBI  are asking for the public’s help in locating Erick Julian Ortega, 28, the prime suspect in the shooting death of  Reynolds, 38, on June 21, 2013.

At a joint press conference with the F.B.I. outside the RBPD station on Tuesday morning, RBPD Chief Joe Leonardi implored anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ortega to come forward.

“Bobby Reynolds was sitting in front of his house waiting for his wife and daughter to return home with pizza when he was shot multiple times from behind,” said RBPD Chief Joe Leonardi. “I have been a police officer for 31 years have seen the other side of crimes which is the effect they have on families, both the victim’s and the suspect’s. We are asking you to break your silence and help mend the hearts on both sides.”

Police and F.B.I. urge the public to come forward with information about Ortega’s location but to not attempt to apprehend him themselves. Those with any information should call the Los Angeles F.B.I. hotline, open 24 hours, at (310) 477-6565.

Police and F.B.I. urge the public to come forward with information about Ortega’s location but to not attempt to apprehend him themselves. Those with any information should call the Los Angeles F.B.I. hotline, open 24 hours, at (310) 477-6565.

Police say Ortega is a known member of the NSR-13, a gang in North Redondo Beach. His whereabouts have remained unknown since the crime.

Police describe Ortega as 5 foot 6 and 160 pounds with distinctive tattoos covering most of his body and face, including the letter’s “HA” on the back of his neck. His other tattoos include a marijuana leaf on his right arm, a naked woman on his right shoulder and NSR-13 gang tattoos.

In attendance at the press conference was the murdered man’s widow, Monica Reynolds, and their two children, Caitlyn, 14, and Bobby Jr., 9. Bobby’s parents, Norman and Bonnie, and his sisters, Melissa and Kristi, were also present. The family also plead for the community’s help in arresting Ortega.

Police emphasized that while a motive has not been determined, the murder was clearly a targeted assassination and not a random act.

In February of this year, the FBI was granted a federal warrant for Ortega’s arrest from the United States Attorney’s office.

“The FBI are continuing to support the Redondo Beach police in their fugitive investigation,” Supervisory Special Agent Charles Gravis of F.B.I. Long Beach said. “ We are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. That person can remain confidential and we can guarantee anonymity. We will use all of our field offices nationally and internationally to continue to try to apprehend and arrest Mr. Ortega.”

Police and F.B.I. urge the public to come forward with information about Ortega’s location but to not attempt to apprehend him themselves. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles F.B.I. hotline, open 24 hours, at (310) 477-6565.

 

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