Police ID Person of Interest in Redondo Beach Fatal Shooting

This article was written and reported by editors Nicole Mooradian and John Schreiber.

The Redondo Beach Police Department on Saturday identified a person of interest in the shooting death of a man in North Redondo Beach on Friday night.

Police believe Erick Julian Ortega, 27, was involved in the shooting that killed Bobby Reynolds, 37, of Gardena, near the intersection of Ralston and Lilienthal Lanes.

Officers responding to a report of shots fired discovered Reynolds, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds at close range, lying on the ground. He succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

"Mr. Reynolds was defenseless ... He was shot in cold blood," said Redondo Beach Police Capt. Jeff Hink. "I would go so far as to say it was an execution, but Mr. Reynolds was targeted."

• Previously: Shooting Victim 'Intentionally Targeted,' Police Say

Witnesses reported seeing a gunman run to an awaiting Chrysler 300 sedan, which belongs to Ortega, and jump in the passenger seat, according to a news release from the Redondo Beach Police Department. The sedan sped off, but officers later found the car abandoned several blocks away in the 2600 block of Spreckles Lane.

A tow truck driver at the scene Friday night told Patch that he was dispatched to pick up Ortega's Chrysler 300 and then drive it to the 25900 block of Oak Street in Lomita. When the tow truck driver arrived at the vehicle though, it was already surrounded by police crime tape.

Hink would not confirm the tow truck driver's account, but did say police are looking into why the tow truck was dispatched to Ortega's vehicle.

Other witnesses told officers that they saw two Hispanic men running from the vehicle. The men were last seen heading south on Inglewood Avenue.

Witnesses described the suspects as Hispanic or white men in their early 20s. One wore an Oakland Raiders shirt, while the other wore a white T-shirt.

Ortega is being sought in connection with the shooting because he is the registered owner of the Chrysler 300. He is described as a 5-foot-6-inch Hispanic man weighing about 160 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes, and numerous tattoos, including one that appears to cover his entire head.

Other tattoos include a marijuana leaf on his right arm; a naked woman on his left shoulder; a cross, "Padre Pardon me," "Redondo Beach" and "father forgive me" on his chest; "bitch, please" on his neck; "Redondo how do you want it" on his abdomen; and a clown on his left shoulder.

"We need to find him at this point and talk to him," Hink said.

Hink said police have not ruled out that the shooting was gang related and said investigators are still trying to figure out a motive.

The whereabouts of Ortega, who has previous arrests on robbery and narcotics offenses, are unknown. Members of the public are asked to call 911 if they see Ortega and not approach him.

Anyone with information on Ortega's whereabouts or on the shooting is urged to call the Redondo Beach Police Department at 310-379-2477 or 310-937-6685, text the department at 310-339-2362, or email crimetips@redondo.org.

The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered.