The family of an 18-year-old San Diego resident shot to death in his car last fall has increased the reward for answers in their loved one’s murder case, which has gone cold.
As it stands, there is now a $5,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest in the killing of Juan Carlos Munoz.
On Oct. 11, 2015, at around 7:50 p.m., Munoz and his 17-year-old friend were hanging out in a car parked in the 1600 block of Prospect Street in National City, Munoz in the driver seat.
National City Police Department (NCPD) detectives say a Nissan Altima soon pulled up near the teenagers, and a suspect exited the passenger side and approached Munoz and his friend, asking them where they were from.
At that moment, detectives say that suspect then fired five rounds from a handgun into Munoz’s car. Four of the rounds struck Munoz on his shoulder, while the fifth round hit his friend on the thigh.
The suspect got back into the Altima and fled the scene eastbound on East 16th Street. When police officers arrived, the suspect was nowhere to be found.
Critically injured, Munoz died at the scene. His friend survived, police said.
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Seven months later, no arrests have been made in this case and the teen’s murder remains unsolved.
On Thursday, Munoz’s family announced they had added $4,000 to the $1,000 reward offered by officials for information on the cold case in hopes of conjuring fresh leads and, ultimately, justice for their loved one.
According to several witnesses, NCPD detectives say the shooting suspect is described as a light-skinned man in his mid-20s with a husky build and a shaved head. The suspect’s vehicle was described as an early to late-2000s model four-door Nissan Altima. A description of the driver of the Altima was not released.
Both the driver and shooter in this case should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
Anyone with information on this cold case can reach out to the NCPD at (619) 336-4411 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
