Duke Herrera, 24, of Long Beach was found dead in the San Gabriel Riverbed near Carson Street in Lakewood on September 19, 2015. Deputies located him around 10:30 a.m. after a call about a man not breathing; he had a single gunshot wound to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene. Family said Herrera had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old and described him as sweet and caring; he was last seen heading home from Social Vocational Services, a program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and had gone missing for over a week in 2014.Herra’s body was shot execution-style while riding his bicycle home from a movie, according to the investigation.

Emeterio Figueroa, who lived in a nearby homeless encampment, was arrested and later tried. Witnesses from the encampment testified that Figueroa made admissions, including that he killed Herrera to prove he could take a life; Figueroa was also convicted of assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm.

The prosecution presented dog scent evidence from a shell casing found near the body linking Figueroa to the scene; the court found that evidence admissible and the trial court found Figueroa guilty and sentenced him.Residents or anyone who knew Duke, his routines, or saw him in the area that day are asked to come forward with information.