LAMW: Murder Victim Daniel Villanueva

Walnut Park - Daniel Villanueva was brutally murdered near the Chuck E. Cheese location in the La Alameda Plaza at Florence Avenue and Alameda Street in Walnut Park.

On Thursday evening, April 28, 2011, Daniel, his wife and their son were in their car waiting to take a parking space near the Panda Express. As the car that was occupying the space pulled away, a pick-up truck that had been parked illegally in the adjacent handicapped space, cut off Daniel and took the space he had been waiting for. The men exchanged words and went their separate ways.

Daniel took his family home and returned to the plaza where he met the man from the pick-up truck. Investigators say they agreed to meet near the Chuck E. Cheese location. When they arrived there, the man in the pick-up truck shot and killed Daniel whose car ended up smashing into the wall of a nearby store.

Detectives John Fredendall and Ken Clark know there were many witnesses, based on what they have seen in security camera videos. Anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890.5500.

Anonymous tips can go to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or to its website at www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tips can also be sent as text messages to CRIMES (274637). The first letters of the message must be TIPLA followed by the information you want to give to detectives.