News Releases
September 6, 2023: Three Charged in Murder, Robbery on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena in July
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Luis Ventura, aka Adonite Diamond; Marco Antonio Hernandez, aka Clandestino; and Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez, aka Malingo have been charged in connection with the robbery and murder of Jessie Enrique Munoz and the robbery of his female companion on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena.
“The heinous actions that led to the robbery and murder of Mr. Jessie Enrique Munoz is an appalling and reprehensible display of disregard for human life,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Munoz’s family and friends who are coping with the pain of this senseless act, including his female companion who also was a victim of robbery at the time of this crime. We will work tirelessly to hold these three individuals accountable for their actions.”
Luis Ventura (dob 04/23/99), Marco Antonio Hernandez (dob 09/21/04), and Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez (dob 06/16/02) are each charged in case BA516784 with two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of murder.
It is further alleged that in the commission and attempted commission of the offense, defendant Alvarenga Cortez personally used a handgun. Ventura plead not guilty at an arraignment on September 1 in Dept. 50 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He is due back in court on October 6 for a preliminary hearing setting in Dept. 50. Hernandez and Cortez are scheduled for arraignment on September 11 in Dept. 30.
On July 22, around 3:50 a.m., Jessie Enrique Munoz was allegedly robbed and murdered by all three defendants, including an unidentified fourth male suspect at a scenic turnout on Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena. Munoz was shot multiple times and died at the scene. A female who was with Munoz also was robbed but unharmed. This case is being investigated by the Pasadena Police Department. We thank the Pasadena Police Department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit, Los Angeles Police Department, LASD Gang Taskforce, LAPD Robbery-Homicide Divsion, U.S.Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Apprehension Taskforce, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their incredible work and partnership during the investigation of this case.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626)- 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting "Crime Stoppers" at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
