Seventeen-year-old David Amaro-Poblano was killed on February 22, 2019, in Gardena, California. He was riding with his mother and his girlfriend to drop off invitations for his sister’s ninth birthday when his mother parked outside a family friend’s home. After about ten minutes David stepped out to check on his mother and, as he walked toward the house, was shot multiple times, including a fatal wound near his heart. He was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead at 7:35 p.m.

Investigators concluded David had been mistakenly targeted by gang members who believed he was affiliated with a rival gang. On May 30, 2019, authorities arrested 20-year-old Marcos Medina and a 17-year-old suspect; both were charged with murder, and Medina faced additional counts for using a handgun, participating in a criminal street gang and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The arrests followed tips from the public and other investigative leads.

David was an honor student and varsity soccer player accepted at multiple universities and planning to attend Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Gardena City Council approved a $15,000 reward for information leading to identification, arrest and conviction in the case. If anyone knew David or has information about the shooting, please come forward.