LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities today announced a $30,000 reward for information that helps solve the killings of a young man and woman who were gunned down in a drive-by attack while they attended a party in Lancaster last fall.
Andrew Chavez, 18, and Clotee Reyes, 19, were shot Sept. 20 about 1:45 a.m. as they talked with friends in the 43000 block of Sixth Street East.
According to the sheriff's department, a black car was driven past the group, and the shots were fired from inside the vehicle.
``There were approximately 50 people at the party, ranging from 15-20 years of age,'' and detectives believe it's likely someone saw something, said sheriff's Deputy Joana Warren.
Chavez had just started a new job, and Reyes was about to begin taking classes to become a dental assistant, Warren said.
``It's tragic, because they didn't just take away one person,'' Chavez's mother, Shawna Donahue, said at a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. ``They didn't just kill one person. They killed two families; two families are gone. We're never going to get to see Clotee again. We're never going to get to see Andrew again.''
Said Sheriff's Capt. Chris Berger: ``We know that somebody there saw what happened, knows what occurred, the people involved and potentially the motivation for this incident.''
The combined reward was offered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the city of Lancaster for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.