Two arrests made in Redondo Beach murder; third suspect sought
Police have arrested Eduardo Antonio Losa on murder charges related to Friday night’s drive-by shooting in North Redondo. Photo courtesy RBPD
Police have made two arrests in connection with the shooting murder of Bobby Darren Reynolds Friday night in Redondo Beach.
Reynolds, 38, was a resident of Gardena and a husband and father of two. At around 8 p.m. he was shot multiple times at close range on the 2400 block of Ralston Lane in Redondo Beach, and died of his injuries at Harbor-UCLA Medical Hospital later that night.
At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Captain Jeff Hink told reporters police believe the murder was gang-related, and specifically related to NSR-13, a Redondo Beach gang whose roots stretch back decades. He said NSR-13, also known as “North Side Redondo”, was a “significant problem” for the city in the 1990s, and while a police crackdown drove many members out of the city because they were “on the radar,” the gang is still active.
On Saturday, investigators arrested Eduardo Antonio Losa for murder and Shelby Ann Johnston for being an accessory to murder.
Losa, 42, resides in the 1800 block of 260th Street in Lomita with Johnston, 29. According to police, Losa is a documented NSR-13 gang member, whose criminal past includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and parole violation.
Investigators served a search warrant at the apartment in which Losa and Johnston reside, but Hink said the actual arrests were made “at a traffic stop.”
A Facebook photo of Shelby Ann Johnston and Eduardo Antonio Losa and their newborn child. Both were arrested as co-conspirators in Friday’s murder.
The pair is believed to have a “close relationship” and possibly to be “together,” he said. Johnston’s Facebook page lists her as “engaged” and shows photos of a newborn child she and Losa had in late October.
Hink said Monday he could not divulge the nature of Johnston’s possible involvement in the murder.
Shelby Ann Johnston was arrested on charges of being accessory to murder. Photo courtesy RBPD
Both Losa and Johnston are being held as co-conspirators to murder. But another suspect, previously identified as a person of interest, is still at large.
Erick Julian Ortega, 27, is the registered owner of a silver Chrysler 300 police believe was the getaway car. Witnesses saw a man shoot Reynolds several times and run to a waiting car described as the Chrysler. The vehicle was recovered several blocks from the scene of the crime, and further investigation led police to identify Ortega as a suspect.
A search warrant was executed on his home in the 25900 block of Oak St. on Saturday, but Ortega was not present.
His whereabouts are still unknown.
“Right now we just want to get him in custody,” Hink told reporters in response to questions about the nature of Ortega’s involvement and the placement of his car. “We don’t know why [his car was there], but we want to find out.”
Ortega is believed to be on the loose, armed, and dangerous. Police say he is also a documented NSR-13 gang member whose criminal record includes robbery and narcotics offenses.
Ortega formerly worked at a Redondo Beach restaurant as a dishwasher. A current employee referred to him as “quiet, sweet kid” who was also the father of a newborn baby. Losa worked at the same restaurant.
Police have reason to believe Ortega communicates with other NSR-13 members in state prisons, and also to believe he traffics in narcotics and distributes some of the profit to inmates in state custody.
Ortega is described as male, Hispanic, 5’6” and about 160 pounds with brown hair and eyes and distinctive tattoos. The ink includes a marijuana leaf on his right arm, a naked woman on his right shoulder, a clown on his left shoulder, the letters “HA” on his head, the following phrases on his chest – “Padre Pardon me,” “Redondo Beach,” and “Father forgive me” – the words “bitch please” on his neck, and the words “Redondo how do you want it” across his abdomen.
Police are warning members of the public not to approach Ortega if they spot him, but instead to call 911. Anyone with any information about Ortega’s whereabouts or the murder is urged to call (310) 379-2477 or (310) 937-6685 or to text (310) 339-2362 or email crimetips@redondo.org.