Police Still Seeking Suspect in Killing During Gun Battle

VAN NUYS —  Police asked the public’s help Thursday in locating a man suspected of fatally shooting a 21-year-old Pacoima man and wounding another during a high-speed chase in Van Nuys two weeks ago.

Police said they believe Jose Marin, 23, of North Hollywood was responsible for the death of Ricardo Tellez. Marin, whom police described as a gang member whose body is covered with tattoos, allegedly shot Tellez and an a friend during a four-mile rolling gun battle.

Marin’s “disregard for life during the pursuit was evident,” said Det. Al Aldaz of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division. “He needs to be taken off the street.”

Joining Aldaz outside the Van Nuys police station, members of the Tellez family described the victim as someone who stayed away from gangs and took care of his parents. Tellez lived with his parents and worked at a Chatsworth plant that produces airplane antennas. His girlfriend is six months pregnant with the couple’s first child, family members said.

“Here is a child who is never going to see his dad,” said Tellez’s older sister, Maria. “This has been a great loss for our family.”

The shooting occurred about 9:30 p.m. on July 19 when one of Tellez’s friends, 23-year-old Manuel Rodriguez, confronted Marin, who was sitting in the back of a maroon Ford Mustang, police said.

Marin had reportedly made derogatory remarks about Tellez’s girlfriend, who worked with Marin at a telemarketing firm, Aldaz said. Marin allegedly pulled out a large-caliber handgun and threatened Rodriguez, who ran away and jumped into a pickup truck where Tellez and 20-year-old Gilberto Cuevas were waiting.

The driver of the Mustang chased the pickup while Marin fired about 25 shots at the other vehicle, police said. Cuevas was struck in the arm, and Tellez, who was a passenger, was hit in the upper body. The chase lasted about 10 minutes and ended in a parking lot in the 6500 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, police said.

Aldaz said police suspect that Marin, who is on parole for a robbery conviction, is still in the area.

Marin is about 5 feet 9 and weighs about 145 pounds, has brown eyes and usually has a shaven head. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (818) 756-8371.