A suspect in the fatal shooting of a father of two in Anaheim in December remained at large and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said Wednesday, March 9.
Authorities identified Franky Mejia Echeverria, 20, of Anaheim as one of two men who had been sought in connection with the killing of David Gutierrez Hernandez, 23. The other suspect, 21-year-old Damien Rubalcava of Costa Mesa, was arrested on the 8100 block of 13th Street in Westminster on March 3.
Investigators were searching for Echeverria as of Wednesday. He was seen with a word tattooed over his right eyebrow, another tattoo of three small round shapes above his right cheek, and a third tattoo of what appears to be a diamond above his left cheek in a photo released by the department on Facebook. He had short black hair combed with a part on the left side of his head and a goatee. He stands 5 feet and 10 inches tall, and weighs about 175 pounds.
David Gutierrez Hernandez was a father of two who was shot and killed in Anaheim in December. (Photo courtesy of the Anaheim Police Department)
Echeverria and Rubalcava were both gang members who approached the victim near his home, police said. Gutierrez was not a gang member, and gunned down in broad daylight. He was found lying on a sidewalk between two apartment buildings along the 2100 block of East Balsam Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 21.
“This area has been one of our most problematic and active neighborhoods for gang violence, especially in the second half of last year,” Anaheim Police Sgt. Shane Carringer said.
A $1 million warrant has been issued for Echeverria’s arrest. Anaheim police asked anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to call detectives at 714-321-3669. Tips can also be left anonymously with OC Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227 (855-TIP-OCCS) or occrimestoppers.org.
Rubalcava remained in custody as of Wednesday in lieu of $1 million bail, according to inmate records. He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at another person from a motor vehicle, vandalism, street terrorism and gang enhancements.