CITY OFFERS REWARD IN SLAYING.Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer It was 1:45 a.m. March 8 when Lidia Fuentes called her sister from a pay phone, trying to arrange a ride for her and her boyfriend. Then came the sound of a struggle. A stranger's car sped away. Her boyfriend, Andres Munoz Castillo, held his hand to his chest as blood seeped through his fingers. On Friday, Fuentes joined police and City Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management to appeal to the public for help in finding the man who killed her 31-year-old boyfriend. ``I hope someone will come out and help us catch this guy,'' Fuentes said through tears. ``I was always happy with him. Now I don't feel good. My heart hurts.'' Wachs announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the killer's arrest and conviction. ``We want him, and we'll pay for it. But he'll pay for it after he's caught,'' Wachs said. Fuentes' 19-year-old son, Carlos, said his mother often cries while listening to Castillo's favorite music, clutching his flannel shirt. ``My mom is not the same strong woman she used to be,'' Carlos Fuentes Noun 1. Carlos Fuentes - Mexican novelist (born in 1928) Fuentes said. ``They were very happy together, and this hurt her a lot.'' Detectives are hoping the reward might jog the memories of possible witnesses or encourage informants to come forward. They're especially hopeful that patrons of Rusty's Hacienda hacienda also called estancia (Argentina and Uruguay) or fazenda (Brazil) In Latin America, a large landed estate. The hacienda originated in the colonial period and survived into the 20th century. night club on Lankershim Boulevard might remember the killer, said Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. police Detective Mike Coffey. About 10 minutes before the slaying, a man matching the description of the killer was inside the bar harassing women and stealing the waitresses' tips, he said. He pulled a knife on two men in the parking lot as he left. ``He was being an obnoxious drunk, and we have reason to believe it will be the same person who killed Castillo,'' Coffey said. Castillo and Fuentes were driving home from a night club March 8 when they were pulled over for expired registration tags. Police said that when they found out Castillo didn't have a driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something , they impounded his car. Officers offered to call him a cab, but he declined, saying he and his girlfriend would walk the two miles home. Castillo and Fuentes walked a few blocks west to the 12000 block of Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. at Ben Avenue where Fuentes used a pay phone to call her sister, police said. While at the phone, a man walked up and asked for a quarter. Castillo gave him one, and the man walked away. A few moments later, the man came back in a car and began talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to Castillo again, Coffey said. ``The suspect said he was too drunk to drive and offered to let them use his car if they drove him home,'' Coffey said. ``Castillo told him no and reached in to shake his hand. ``At that point, the driver took a sharp instrument and stabbed him,'' Coffey said. The suspect is described as a Latino in his late 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build, police said. He was driving a 1980s American-made light blue sedan Sedan (sədäN`), town (1990 pop. 22,407), Ardennes dept., NE France, on the Meuse River. A noted textile center since the 16th cent., Sedan also has metal and brewing industries. The town became part of French crown lands in 1642. with three primer spots on the passenger side. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call North Hollywood detectives at (818) 623-4075 during business hours BUSINESS HOURS. The time of the day during which business is transacted. In respect to the time of presentment and demand of bills and notes, business hours generally range through the whole day down to the hours of rest in the evening, except when the paper is payable it a bank or by a , and (818) 623-4016 during nights. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Map PHOTO (1) L.A. City Councilman Joel Wachs talks with Lidia Fuentes and her son Carlos about the reward for the killer of Andres Castillo. Michael Owen
(2--Composite Sketch) This sketch of the murder suspect was released. MAP: NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Site of March 8 murder |
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