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Zuly Carpio
Amy Depaul
Literary Journalism 21
11 May, 2015
Baldwin Park Shooter Escapes
A 23 year old man ran to a friends house, which was a block away, after being shot three
times in the back for walking down the street of a gang rivals house on November 17, 2014
between 11:55 a.m. and 12 in the afternoon in Baldwin Park.
Ruben Vindiola, a documented known gang member, was found at his friends house
conscious but with several wounds to his back. Vindiola was on his way to visit a friend when
the unidentified man recognized him to be from a rival gang and walked out to confirm. Police
reports state that the man approached and pulled out a shotgun from his front waistband,
immediately threatening Vindiola. Upon seeing the shotgun, Vindiola ran for his life as the
suspect fired a total of 4-5 rounds of bullets.
Vindiola was able to run to a friends house for safety even though he was severely
injured. According to Detective Ruben Guerrero, Vindiola was shot at numerous times, with the
suspect missing the first two shots but hitting him on the third on his middle back. Rounds later,
Vindiola was hit in the back of his neck and head, but was able to continue running until he lost
the suspect and made it to his friends house. The friend called the ambulance and Vindiola was
treated at USC Hospital.
Guerrero arrived to the scene without a partner and his primary concern was to secure the
area by blocking out the streets prohibiting cars from going in or out. Unable to get an immediate
statement from Vindiola, and never getting a look at the shooter, Guerrero had to rely on

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witnesses description. One of the homes had a surveillance system; however, the footage was
not of good quality, showing only that the shooter was a male Hispanic of about 510 in height
and 150 pounds, Guerrero said.
Surveillance footage was able to capture the suspect running towards the back passenger
seat of a black newer model Toyota Section XB and the car driving away as soon as he entered.
While the Baldwin Park Police Department investigated whether the shooting was planned, they
executed a warrant as well as a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) flyer describing the suspect vehicle.
The suspect was never detained, arrested or charged with anything because of the lack of
evidence and cooperation. Police did not find the Toyota and despite putting out a flyer and
getting an arrest warrant for the suspect, they were never able to identify the shooter. Vindiolas
refusal to cooperate in identifying the shooter, because he feared for his safety, left the police
with no other option but to drop the case.