Juan Jose Dominguez-Hernandez, a 20-year-old Stockton resident, was killed on August 15, 2018, shortly before 2 a.m. He had just finished a shift at a Panda Express on Fremont Street and walked to the back of the parking lot to his vehicle when two people ambushed him intending to steal his car keys. Juan resisted, was pistol-whipped by the 13-year-old while Whitlach restrained him, and was then shot in the head. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Whitlach and the 13-year-old fled in Juan’s car but crashed later that morning in a Burlington Coat Factory parking lot in Sacramento and were taken into custody by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. Whitlach was tried as an adult, convicted of first-degree murder and carjacking, and in December 2022 was sentenced to 29 years to life in prison (25 years for murder plus four years for carjacking, consecutive). The community mourned Juan’s death and the case raised questions about juvenile involvement in violent crime.

If anyone knew Juan, worked with him at Panda Express, or has information about the night of August 15, 2018, please share what you remember.