Investigators are searching for leads in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man who loved ones say was an innocent bystander struck by a stray bullet.
David Hernandez leaves behind a wife and 4-year-old daughter following the June 5 shooting. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise money for the family.
Making matters worse, loved ones say, is that Hernandez’s mother had health issues and died this week after being hit hard by her son’s death. A separate GoFundMe has been set up for her memorial.
Hernandez’s daughter, Vanessa, is currently in therapy and still unaware of her father’s passing, the victim’s sister Adriana Hernandez said.
“She still asks us for her daddy,” she said. “They’re working it slowly so they’re able to tell her that her daddy is not here with us anymore. He’s in heaven.”
Orange County sheriff’s investigators are still trying to piece together what happened the night David Hernandez was killed in the parking lot outside the Mexico De Noche nightclub at 10560 S. Magnolia Ave.
Deputies have no evidence that the victim was a patron of the club, and family members say he was with his best friend, who lives across the street from the nightclub.
Hernandez was on his way home from work when his friend called and asked if he could give him a ride home too, the victim’s sister said.
The gunfire erupted around 2:30 a.m., and detectives are still searching for witnesses. On Thursday they released surveillance video of the gunman’s Jeep fleeing the scene that they hope will help in solving the case.
“All they know is that my brother, as he was turning around in his vehicle, he realizes that he got shot,” Adriana Hernandez said. So he and his friend swapped seats, and he was rushed to the hospital.
The friend told family members he had no idea where the shots came from.
Deputies say their only clue is the surveillance video showing the shooter’s vehicle fleeing the scene.
The vehicle is described as a red, four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon from model year 2015 or newer.
Anyone with information can contact sheriff’s investigators at 714-647-7000. Anonymous tips may be submitted via 855-847-6227 or occrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip.