One Compton and one Bellflower resident were arrested in connection with last week’s Pine Avenue hit-and-run that left 24 year-old Serena Medina dead and another person injured. Froylan Velazquez, 26, of Compton–who was found with the suspect vehicle and arrested late last Wednesday night–was charged this Tuesday with vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run.
Edward Martinez of Bellflower, also 26, was arrested on Tuesday and booked for being an accessory and is awaiting arraignment.
The incident occurred at around 1:30AM last Wednesday morning, when witnessees say they heard people arguing as they left Taco Beach and spilled into the street. At some point, according to witnesses, a vehicle that was stopped on Pine Ave. between Broadway and 3rd St. reversed, running over the two victims, killing Medina, and causing damage to two newspaper bins out front of a coffeeshop. Long Beach Police Department homicide and accident investigation detectives arrived at the scene to determine whether or not the incident was intentional.
“As the investigation progressed, it became clear to investigators that this was not a typical traffic accident, and possibly was an intentional act,” LBPD said in a press release.
After a day-long search, detectives located the vehicle in Compton and arrested Velazquez. According to the Press-Telegram, Medina was the mother of a four year-old girl.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Hugo Cortes or Peter Lackovic at 562-570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visitwww.LACrimeStoppers.org.
–Photo of Serena Medina’s memorial on Pine Ave. by Sarah Bennett
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