Francisco Aguirre Jr., 31

Francisco Aguirre Jr., a 31-year-old Latino man, was killed by a hit-and-run driver at 1519 North Gaffey Street in San Pedro at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. According to Det. Frank Weber, Aguirre and his friends were returning from a birthday celebration and had made a final stop at a 7-Eleven. Inside the store, a man got into a verbal confrontation with one of Aguirre's friends. As Aguirre and his friends were returning to their limo bus, the man -- who had been waiting on the lot -- reversed his van and plowed through the group, injuring two people and dragging Aguirre from the lot and into the street. He died instantly.

Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Division arrested Samuel Pinto, 36, on suspicion of homicide later that evening. On Jan. 23, the L.A. County district attorney filed murder charges against Pinto. His arraignment was postponed until Jan. 30.

Aguirre was the fourth child of seven brothers. Those who were close to Aguirre knew him as "Pancho."  To his mother, he was "Panchito." For years Aguirre had been working odd jobs, including construction and car repair. Aguirre changed a few years ago after he began thinking about settling down and buying a house. He began assisting his mother and grandmother with routine tasks like paying bills and grocery shopping, according to his brother, Robert Ortiz. He attended more family functions as well. He started to save money and looked for a steady job so that he could marry his girlfriend, whom he had been with for eight years, Ortiz said. "He really turned a corner ... he was becoming a man," he added with a teary voice. "It was a beautiful thing to see."

Aguirre's family is seeking donations for funeral services.

-- Ruben Vives /LAT

Comments

[Andrew Navejar]

rest in peace tio pancho.
i miss you i love you. it hurts that your not here. all this that happened to us to you doesnt let me concencrate in school expecially in math. but thanks to marisa she's going to help me. tio i promise i will try my best in school for you.
i will always have youm in my heart. may god rest your soul. i miss everything about you, your jokes, your smile, and the way you where such a good uncle to. tio i will miss you at my baseball games, but i know your there with me eveywhere i go. please always whatch over, and never live my sight. i love you. you will always be in my heart, and eveywhere i go you will be their protecting all of us. rest in peace tio pancho

[Marissa Marin]

R.I.P PANCHO!!!!!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU!! I PRAY TO GOD EVER NIGHT THAT YOUR WITH HIM ON HIS SIDE WITH MY GRANDPA RAMON MAY GOD BLESS ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS... WELL EVERYONE THAT LOVES YOU!! YOU WERE A STAR THAT BRIGHTS EVERYONE HEARTS AND I KNOW YOU WILL KEEP MOVING ON FOR YOUR LOVE ONES AND YOU WILL BE IN ALL ARE HEART!!! I WISH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WELL AND TO BE STRONG FOR YOU PANCHITO!!! WELL THIS IS WHERE I END MY GOODBYE FOR NOW BUT I HOPE TO MEET U AGAIN BEAUTIFUL WHERE WE WILL ALL BE HAPPY TOGETHER!!! I LOVE YOU!!!
aLwAyZ LOVE
(AMANDA'S GODSISTER)
*MARISSA *
*) LIL DIMPLES(*

[anonymous]

Pancho,

It's hard to believe that you are gone. I'll never forget your kind and generous ways. You were always so forgiving and patient with me. I never heard you say one unkind word to or about anyone. You would rather be wrong than disagree with anyone. You were a very loyal person. One who would do anything for a friend. Likeable and easy going were qualities that came naturally to you. You had a special charm about you. You found humor in just about anything. I learned a lot from you, Pancho.

I'll never forget the way you treated your mother. You did everything you could for her. I remember the way you would joke with her. You used to put a smile on her face. You really loved your family.

I'm sorry I never said goodbye. I'll never forget you. You left me with a lot of good memories and lessons learned. You were loved.

Goodbye, my friend.

[Amanda Navejar]

its me again.
tio pancho rest in peace

i love you. i miss you. its hard to get over the fact that your not here. i didn't even get to say goodbye. i miss everything about you, your smile, your voice, that you never treated me wrong, and that you loved me. your thanks for being nice to adrian, and never treating him wrong. i will never disappoint you. i will do good in school, and get good grades for you tio. i will miss the way you gave me compliments, and said keep up the good work. it hurts that your not here, and that you couldn't be here for my 18th birthday, but i will be thinking about you. i know you will be watching me from uo above. please watch over me, and take care of me. its really going to be different without you. i will be thinking about you for rest of my life. im really gonna miss you without you things wont be the same. i remember the last time i saw you, and the last thing you told me. you told me a joke you always said funny jokes i miss that. i guess i have to accpect the fact that your not here its going to be hard, but i know your spirit is always with me. holidays wont be the same were always going to be missing one person, and thats you i know your there with us wherever we go. my birthday is going to be sad for me. the year is going to be hard for all of us. i will be missing you, and i love you alot tio pancho. you will forever be in my heart. your spirit will live on forever. god rest your soul.never leave our sight, watch over all of us, and take care of us. i miss you i love you. i pray for you every night.

in loving memory of tio pancho aguirre
july/24/76-1/19/08
we love you
we miss you
forever in our hearts
we will always pray for you.

YOUR NEICE AMANDA

[Amanda Navejar]

i WrOtE ThIs PoEm FoR My TiO. i LoVe YoU, AnD i MiSs YoU. FoReVeR In My HeArT. ReSt In PeAcE. LOVE YOUR NIECE AMANDA.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF...

I WASN'T THERE
WHEN YOU PASSED AWAY
WHEN GOD TOOK YOU BY THE HAND
AND SAID FALLOW NE THIS WAY.

I'D LIKE TO REMEMDER YOU
THE WAY YOU WERE
I THINK THIS TO MYSELF
BUT IS IT TRUE?

AS YOU LAID IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH
I PRAY YOU FELT NO FEAR
GOD REST YOUR SOUL
AS YOU TOOK YOUR LAST BREATH
AND SHED YOUR LAST TEAR

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WHAT WILL YOU SEE?
YOUR PAIN IS OVER?
BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?

YOU DIDN'T SHOW FEAR
WHILE THOSE AROUND YOU WEPT.
MY FOUNDEST MEMORIES OF YOU,
IN MY HEART IS WHERE THEY WILL BE KEPT.

ASHES TO ASHES
DUST TO DUST
YOU HAVE PASSED TO A BETTER PLACE
AND IN THIS WE MUST TRUST.

I WASN'T THERE
WHEN YOU PASSED AWAY
WHEN GOD TOOK YOU BY THE HAND
AND SAID FALLOW ME THIS WAY.

IN LOVING MEMORYOF TIO PANCHO AGUIRRE
JULY.24,2008-JANUARY.19,2008
REST IN PEACE
WE LOVE YOU
YOUR SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON FOREVER
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
WE MISS YOU TIO PANCHITO.

[sophia and bobby ortiz]

I am writing this in behalf of my little kids, Tio Pancho we dont really understand what happend to you and why we cant see you again, or why our daddy is so sad. All we know is that the short time we knew you, you were a good uncle you always went out of your way to buy us a gift you really put some thought into what i would like and i always did. You gave me a great princess scooter last year and im so sorry you didnt have time to see me ride it im doing so good. Bobby is so small he wont remember you but i know that my daddy will make sure we dont forget you ever. I always say to my daddy that you are so handsom..
I am only four but i too feel sad that you are gone Please keep me and bobby safe and my daddy and mommy too. You are with the Angels now tio pancho you are with my grandma chuyita I know that she will take care of you. We love you.

[Amanda Navejar]

pancho you will be missed always. thanks for always being nice to me. i promise i will take good care of your nieace amanda.REST IN PEACE PANCHO AND WATCH OVER ALL OF US. we'll pray for you. we will never forget want a good caring and nice person you were to all of us.
WE LOVE YOU PANCHO. ADRIAN NAVARRO

[Amanda Navejar]

To my uncle pancho i love and i miss you. losing you hurt me alot you were the greatest uncle. You were a very nice firend, brother, son, and tio. panchito you were never mean to me and you treated me nice i love you with all my heart. May you rest in peace. It hurts because your not in sight but i know your always with us and watching over us. I will miss you panchito and i will never forget you. always and forever you will be in my heart. i love you and i will see you soon. Your Nieace Amanda.
Rest In Peace Panchito. You'll be missed

[Maria Navejar]

To my dear little brother in law Pancho there are no words to describe the emptiness you have left in all of our hearts, you will be miss and never forgotten; your neice Amanda will miss your compliments on her grades and the way you would tell to keep it up and Andrew will miss you at his baseball games and the way you would take your friends because he was proud of him. Please take care of us from Heaven above shelter us with your wings. We love you your big brother Lorenzo miss you very much and we cannot explain the reason this happened to such a nice person. I love you my little brother your sister Maria Navejar

[Meleny]

I'm sadden that something so devastating could happen to such a great family. I always knew how close all the boys were and hate that something like this happened. The boys are in my thoughts and prayers. Pancho will be missed greatly. . . We love you Pancho!

Meli Mel & the Girls

[Evelyn Leanos]

To my friend "Panchi Panch"

This is the day after.....the day after we've laid you to rest and I am still in disbelief.
May you rest in eternal peace Pancho and may all that you were live in all of us and inspire us to be better. As I said before you were "1st class" and a really good friend.

Losing you has reminded me of how big of a family I have, my immediate family and all my dear friends which were some of yours aswell. Ever since your passing, when I say good bye or good night I also say "I love you" I wish I could have said good bye Panchi Panch and I love you the week before this tragedy, but I believe you knew that all of us that were there with you LOVED YOU VERY MUCH PANCHI PANCH.

Seeing the boys without you behind them is going to be difficult...how will we stop ourselves from asking "Where's Pancho?" I guess we'll learn.......we'll learn....one day at a time my friend.

To Marissa, You we will always be here. WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. You two were so much a reflection of each other and brought out the best in each other.

Love Evelyn

[3j1n]

We are sorry for the sudden loss of your loved one. Our prayers are with the family.

[Marisa Morreale]

To the love of my life and best friend Pancho. I am sick over the fact that you are gone now and there is nothing I can do about it. There are no words to discribe how your death has effected everyone's lives around you. You were ripped from everyone's hearts without warning and have left us feeling helpless and alone. Since the day I met you, all I wanted was to spend every moment with you. I loved the way you dressed, the way you combed your hair, the way you organized things, they way you loved your family and friends, the way you loved my cooking, the way we did everything together, the way you treated everyone with respect, the way you were the greatest friend you could be and just the way you treated me. I know you loved me with all of your heart and your and watching down on all of us right now. I am going to miss you so much! I love you baby, see you soon. Marisa

[Robert Ortiz]

My baby brother Pancho. You were taken from us so adruptly and without warning. I will always remember your shy and soft spoken demeanor, your caring and giving ways, the way you worshiped the ground our mother walked on, the way you looked after our mother and abuelita. You were doing all right things, blossoming into a fine man. I will miss your funny laugh and keen sense of humor. Your beautiful spirit will live in my heart forever, you have made a better man and I will never be the same. MY BELOVED BROTHER. REST IN PEACE.

[marcela ortiz]

Pancho will be missed, he was a funny and loving guy. He was a great brother in law and friend and i will really miss him.. Pancho may you rest in peace and always watch over us.. we loved you ..

[mari]

Just wanted to send my condolences to the family and I wish them well. We are all here for you guys!