'He was never afraid to help you'

Melvin Espinoza, 26, a Latino man, was fatally shot at the front door of his apartment in Lynwood about 1:30 a.m., August 27, 2005.

He and his girlfriend were awakened by a neighbor knocking at their front door. The neighbor said her boyfriend was arguing with four men who had been stealing fire extinguishers in the building. She asked Espinoza if he could intervene, Espinoza's sister, Jackie, said.

"He was never afraid to help you," she said.

He confronted the four men. "He told them to leave, and I guess they felt they were being disrespected," his sister said.

Espinoza and his girlfriend were returning to their apartment when two of the four men approached them. Espinoza said her brother pushed his girlfriend inside the apartment, closed the door and was shot in the face by one of the two men. He collapsed by the door and died, she said.

Four months after the shooting two of the four men were identified and arrested. The men were Latino gang members. Jackie Espinoza said her brother's girlfriend and the neighbor testified against the two men. The gunman was convicted of murder, she said. The other man was acquitted and released. Fearing retaliation, Espinoza's girlfriend moved to her grandmother's house in Riverside. Their neighbors also moved out of the area.

Jackie Espinoza, 31, said her brother had a big heart. He was 6 feet 1 and weighed about 200 pounds. She said he was the kind of man who would pull over if your car was broken down at the side of the road. He would offer you a ride as long as you gave him gas money. He never gave homeless people money but bought them food instead.

Her brother wanted to finish school to become a phlebotomist, a person who draws blood. He was a medical assistant and was taking care of their diabetic mother, who required insulin shots. She said her brother oversaw their mother's medications and doctor appointments.

She said her brother had a 1996 green Ford Explorer SUV that he loved. "He only used it for special occasions," she said. The SUV had neon lights, rims, a sound system and a Flowmaster exhaust system. "You could always hear him coming around the corner of our house," she said. "He loved loud noises."

According to Jackie, her 26-year-old sister now drives the SUV. "He had left something for all of us, should anything happen to him," she said. "He wanted her to keep the truck."   

Comments

[Melvin's Sister Jackie]

I would like to thank all the people who have helped us throughout these long 2 1/2 years and the people who have made comments on this website. My mother still cries for my brother everyday. He may not be here physically but still lives in our hearts and is remembered by the people that he made a difference in their lifes. Due to this tragedy, I continue a struggle against Victims of Crime by uniting with organizations that hold Peace Marches or Candle Light Vigils every year in rememberance on our loved ones. If it wasn't for groups like Drive By Agony, S.T.E.V.I.E, Cry No More, etc., we would be living with anger and hate in our hearts. Thanks to all the people that are part of my struggle and do something to fight Crime in our cities!

P.S. Special thanks to Ruben Vives for writting these kind of stories and letting people know about our loved ones.

Love,
Jackie Espinoza

[Agnostic Free Thinker]

I am sorry to hear that an apparently fine person was murdered by some scumbag gang member. I hope this guy never gets out of prison.

[Ernie]

I wonder what effect it would have on the other gang members to watch as their four convicted fellow members are made to kneel down in front of national television and each executed with shot to their heads? Unfortunately that is the only language these gang members understand. If it takes a public humilation to temper these useless sociopaths, then why are we not embracing it? Any one of us could be next as long as these killers run free.

[lobo]

wow you cant help anyone anymore! tragedy discuss and filty people

[Patty]

It's sad to know that good people who try to hekp others end up paying the price. Im just glad that one of the scumbags who did this was caught and is now sitting in prison for the rest of his life!!! Blessings out to his family and Rest In peace Melvin.

[Mother T.]

Melvin was obviously someone who deserves to be remembered and admired. The way he lived, not died, should be extolled and followed. Thank you for sharing his life with us.

Blessings,
Mother T