A carjacking in the Pico Rivera area over the weekend has tragically cost the life of a 13-year-old girl. Fox 11 in Los Angeles reports that the tragic incident took place on Sunday, July 5th, just after 2:00 p.m. A family of six stopped at a neighborhood food market located in the 9000 block of Whittier Boulevard near the intersection of Lindsey Avenue.
According to a statement made by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez, the parents went inside the business, leaving the car running while their children were still inside the vehicle. The children ranged in age from 8 years of age to 18-years-of age.
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Authorities say that is when the carjacking suspect, 27-year-old Jose Aguilar, jumped into the driver’s seat of the Toyota minivan and began heading westbound. The 18-year-old girl fought with Aguilar for a brief time before coming out of the van. The van continued traveling westbound, and the 13-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy fell out of the vehicle and onto the pavement.
Both the 8-year-old boy and the 13-year-old girl suffered major injuries. The boy was transported to an area hospital and is listed in critical condition, while his sister, 13-year-old Isabella Cortes, died at the scene.
The 19-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy received only minor injuries and are expected to be ok.
Aguilar kept on driving the carjacked minivan into El Monte and abandoned it a few miles away before attempting to carjack another vehicle. A family had stopped at an area fruit stand when Aguilar tried to steal their car. Two Good Samaritans working at the fruit stand at the time helped the father of the family in subduing and holding the suspect until Sheriff’s deputies arrived.
Aguilar was arrested and is expected to face numerous charges. According to court documents, Aguilar had been recently released from custody for vandalism and felony possession of a dirk or dagger.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details were released at the time of the report.
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