69-Year-Old Man in Critical Condition After Attempted Carjacking in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA — A 69-year-old man is fighting for his life after being shot three times during an attempted carjacking in the Montecito Heights area late Tuesday night. The victim, identified by friends as Jose Ayala Martinez, was attacked shortly before midnight at the intersection of Marmion Way and Pasadena Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The incident unfolded when a 19-year-old suspect, who authorities have identified as a documented gang member, approached Martinez from behind and demanded his vehicle. When Martinez refused, the suspect opened fire, hitting him in the mouth, neck, and shoulder. Despite his injuries, Martinez managed to drive a mile north to the parking lot of a Food 4 Less at the intersection of Figueroa Street and North Avenue 51, where he called police and a friend for help.

Lourdes Moarde, a friend of Martinez, described the harrowing moment when she received the call. “He was speaking very slowly. I said, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘They tried to rob or kill me, I don’t know,’” Moarde told KTLA with visible emotion. Medical personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the parking lot and rushed Martinez to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Authorities reported that officers in the area heard the gunfire and quickly spotted the suspect fleeing eastbound on Marmion Way. The suspect was apprehended without incident and is currently in custody. The suspect’s identity has not yet been released by police.

The aftermath of the incident was captured on video, showing Martinez’s truck with multiple bullet holes in the windshield. The violent attack has left the local community shaken, with residents expressing their fear and concern over the rising crime in the area.

Highland Park resident Noah Collier described how the sound of police helicopters prompted him to lock all the doors in his house. Another resident, Alan Resnick, expressed his distress over the situation, saying, “It’s scary, I don’t want anyone to get shot.”

As Martinez remains in critical condition, the community grapples with the reality of the increasing violence in their neighborhood. The investigation into the attempted carjacking and shooting is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.