Van Nuys: Juan Espinoza, 19

Juan Espinoza, a 19-year-old Latino, was shot several times on Friday, July 31,  at Friar Street and Vesper Avenue in Van Nuys. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Espinoza, of Van Nuys, was found shot in a parking lot at about 10:30 p.m., according to the LAPD. Espinoza got into an argument with someone, which led to the shooting, police said.

The suspect was described by police as a Latino man in his late 20s or early 30s with black hair. Police said the suspect drove away in a small, late 1980s model four-door car, possibly a Honda Civic.

Anyone with information about this killing is asked to call LAPD Van Nuys homicide detectives at (818)374-0040.

-- Anthony Pesce

Comments

[Lee Anne]

I just saw Juan's story on the Dr Phil show today and the notice at the end of the program that he died suddenly recently was shocking. To now read that he was a victim of homicide breaks my heart! My husband is Latino, and I see the need for role models to the young Latino community!! This young man was a gift from God and had such a promising future for someone to have robbed us of seeing what his future had in store is such a shame!

[Tara]

What a tragic end to such a sad story. The life he had lead up until his murder breaks my heart. No family, no birth-certificate, and on Dr. Phil's show to try and get some help. He had finally gotten some help to only have his life snuffed out. God Bless him.

[Jessica Paine]

How tragic... I just watched Dr Phil also and my heart stopped when the show ended. I was really hoping great things for him... If the system had worked he might night have been out at night in wrong area, he might have been home, in his apartment, getting ready for work the next day. Just maybe if the system had worked.

[linda childers]

I also seen the show and was compelled to find out more about this tragic loss. It's such a shame the way some people devalue life. This poor kid had nothing but his pride and some idiot took his life probably over something senseless. I'm at a loss for words. I will never understand why our children kill eachother. It's just devastating. I pray Juan has found the love and peace he deserves.

[Joyce]

I also saw this on Dr.Phil,this is soooo sad..I was hoping that this young man
was going to finally get to have a good life..maybe some of us should do something to help stop these things from happening.My great-grandson still
has problems dealing with being in foster care for only two weeks when he was
four,he's seven now.There are some good foster homes,but I'm afraid there
are more bad then good..I hope this young man has found some peace,at last

[Amanda Westfield]

Devastating- took my breathe away... first the pain in his eyes the hope that maybe this time someone really cared and then his death felt like someone hit me in the stomach wanted so much for him to make it-

[Jennifer]

Like many who watched the show, I was stunned when I saw the note at the end stating about Juan's tragic death. No home, no identity while he was here on earth.
Prayerfully, his soul is finally at home with the Lord in heaven. No more pain or sorrow for Juan; I take some comfort in that.

[Amy Reperto]

Such a tragic ending to such a sweet young man's life. I also watched the Dr. Phil show and this young man touched me with his sincerity and nobody should be a victim of what seems like a very poor system. God bless him and my heart goes out to all those who are victims like he was.

[becky]

This breaks my heart. I just watched him on Dr. Phil today, and kept thinking that he seemed to have such hope for the future with all that Dr. Phil offered him. I grew up as the child of foster parents, and we often had foster children in our home. How I wish that there were stable foster families for all the "Juans" out there. My husband and I are unable to have children and have been tossing the idea of fostering around...I feel today has put me over the edge and I'm going to go for it!

[MsW.]

So sad the hand he was dealt after coming into this world and then to lose his life to street violence! God makes no mistakes and HE felt it was time for Juan to come home where he could finally have some peace! RIP Juan you are safe now.

[Stephanie]

My heart sank and tears filled my eyes over this young man and the tragedy the ended his life. If these feelings can be brought over a young soul that I knew so little about, imagine what type of compassion could take place in a relationship with a child that you are personally helping to change their life. It really does only take one person to make a difference in a childs life. I hope that we can accept Dr. Phil's challenge to reach out and be that one person in a child's life so that tragedies such as Juan's never have to occur.

[Sherry McGowan]

I watched this young man on Dr. Phil and admired him for pushing through all the adversity he has experienced in his life to date.....I had so much hope for him and then I saw the memorial note and the end. Juan, the angels are with you now, may you find the peace you so deserved. I hope his killer realises what he has done with his life in taking Juan's life and prays for forgivness from our heavenly father.

"Turn me against the wind so that god may see my face" he holds you now...

[Jack Blade]

What a sad ending for a guy who already had a tough road coming up! He finally gets a break and evil had one more card to play. Now he is with God and his troubles are over! What does this whole situation say about the foster care system and crime in LA? The criminals seem to run the streets here in LA? To me it is not the guns which are the main problem but the viciousness and callousness of these criminals today? It's so bad where I live that you need to carry in order to protect yourself! Constantly have guys asking where your from which is a direct challenge and you can be killed at the drop of a hat over nothing as Juan was! I can only hope for a better future and pray for Juan's family! God Bless!

[Allison R.]

My heart goes out to Juan, who I saw on Dr. Phil as well. I believe there are good foster care homes out their, but of course, not all are that way. I beg of ANYONE that knows anything about this shooting to please contact the authorities THIS SECOND. Thank you so much. By reporting any information, you can keep killers like this off the streets and help keep the public safe. Gracias

[John Green]

I can only hope that this young man, who had so little joy in his life, at least got to see his Lakers game, before he was so senselessly taken. May you be at Peace now.

[Cynthia Keller]

Today's show was a rerun, I saw the first showing earlier this year and it moved my heart to get involved with CASA because of Juan Espinoza.

Now only is his blood on the hand(s) of those who took his life, his blood is on the two people who brought him into this world and did nothing for him, let him down.

I pray Juan is with Jesus, in perfection, and this awful world he left behind, he will never have any painful reminders nor shed tears again!

[Edwina Raney]

I couldn't believe my eyes at the end of the show. I had to log on to Dr. Phil's site to understand what I saw. Such a heart warming story, with all Dr. Phil blessings of understanding what this boy..yes boy has gone through. You can see Juan's face with thankfulness. I'm sure with his past, he has never encountered such compassion towards him. I truly hope the LAPD finds this idiot. It's too late now to wish someone else should of been with him at the park. There's no Why or How come?
People struggle through life and wanting to learn and it's those people that get hurt in the long run. Oh there's a small percentage that do make it out of this system but for our Angel Juan, may you be in Peace with Our Lord!!!!
WHAT A WASTE!!!!!!

[josie]

i just seen the show with juan his story touched my heart you will not be in no more pain or u will not suffer no more may u rest in peace juan my heat is with u

[Da_Tita]

While watching the Dr. Phil show, I was stunned when I read what had happened to Juan Espinoza and tears flowed down my cheeks immediately :-( So sad how a person who was well on his way to what seemed to be a new and positive future with the help of Dr. Phil, could lose his life in an instant by some trash!

[K-A]

I am so sad about this. I can't stop crying. I think I connected with him because he looked like my 19yr old son.
It is so sad what he went through in his short life. I hope the foster families have some legal action done to them because if both the families and the system where doing what they are supposed to do this might not have ended this way. When people start thinking that there is value to a human life maybe all this violence and killing will stop. God Bless this sweet child.

[sandy]

I would like to thank everyone for their comments on Juan's passing. I knew Juan for a short time but he was a great guy, a great friend and a great listener. What happened to him was very unfortunate and if only one could turn back the hands of time..... but it is not possible. I learned of his passing not to long ago, he would be glad to know of all the care and support everyone has shown even if only through comments, if only the system could've done the same for him. He is now in HEAVEN another bright star, gone too soon. I will miss you Juan and will always keep you in my prayers. Sleep With The ANGELS.