A 19-year-old woman who had been kidnapped during a gunshot was discovered dead In Whittier, in an event that happened at Penn Park over the weekend. The woman has been identified as Andrea Vazquez.

The police said that this young victim was killed in what seemed to be a senseless and random attack. The incident happened on Sunday just after midnight, next to Penn Park’s parking slots.

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Who was Andrea Vazquez?

Andrea Vazquez was 19 years old. She was a Fullerton College fashion design student who worked at a Cerritos mall and was found dead late on Monday night in a Moreno Valley vegetation area west of Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street.

According to family relatives, Andrea Vazquez and her boyfriend were at the location when an armed attacker approached their car and started shooting at them. Edlyn Vazquez, her sister, disclosed that during the commotion, the boyfriend left the area. When he came back, Andrea was nowhere to be found. According to a police news release, the suspect at Penn Park appears to have randomly selected Andrea Vazquez and her male companion as targets. 

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The authorities have announced that Whittier resident Gabriel Esparza, 20, was taken into custody at his Lakewood job on Monday. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with both murder and kidnapping. He was lodged in the Whittier Police Department jail. For the time being, Esparza is being held without bond.

Edlyn Vazquez, Andrea’s sister said, “I tracked it to … going down the 60. I started following it and the location stopped in Moreno Valley, and that’s the last known location that I have of her.”

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Authorities have also retrieved a weapon they suspect was used in the crime as part of their ongoing investigation. Furthermore, the 2013 White Toyota Tacoma pickup that belonged to Andrea has been located.