Luis Quintanar was 18 when he was shot and killed on August 28, 2016, outside Central Community Church in Riverside, California after an altercation in the church parking lot. Thomas Scott, 30, from Riverside, approached Quintanar and his friends; an argument turned physical and Scott shot Quintanar with a handgun before fleeing. Tips from the public led the Riverside Police Department to locate and arrest Scott, who was booked on murder charges.

At trial Scott represented himself and repeatedly denied guilt, claiming self-defense and accusing police of prosecuting him to obtain a conviction. Prosecutors introduced a recorded interview and other evidence; jurors noted inconsistencies in Scott’s statements about details such as bullet caliber and the firearm’s location. After two days of deliberations the jury deadlocked on murder and involuntary manslaughter but did convict on possession of a weapon by a felon.

Anyone with information about the shooting or who knew Luis is asked to share what they know.