News Releases

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that his office charged a man today for the hate-motivated killing of an unhoused individual in Sylmar earlier this month.

“Hate crimes have spiked across the country in recent years and we remain steadfast in ensuring that we hold these violent individuals accountable while working to prevent such violence from happening in the future,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Targeting someone because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation is unconscionable.”

Eric Antonio Sanchez (dob 10/1/92) was charged in case PA098265 with one count each of murder and attempted murder with a hate crime allegation.

He is expected to be arraigned today in Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch.

On July 5, the defendant was walking past 48-year-old Ryan Bush near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Polk Street. Sanchez is accused of pulling out a gun and fatally shooting Bush, who was allegedly targeted based on a presumption of his gender identity and sexual orientation. The defendant also is charged with shooting at a nearby bystander.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.