An Official Website of
the City of L.A. Los Angeles

Services

City Services

Directory

City Directory

For Emergencies Dial 911 | For Non-Emergency Police Response 877-ASK-LAPD

Women's History Month 2025

LAPD Logo
  • Your LAPD
          • Find Your Local Police Station
          • Inside the LAPD
          • Join the LAPD
          • Community Safety Partnership Bureau
          • Medal of Valor, Purple Heart & Preservation of Life Awards
          • Constitutional Policing
          • Mission, Vision, Values
          • History of the LAPD
          • Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
          • LAPD Organization Chart
          • Strategic Plan 2021 to 2023
          • LAPD Store
          • Trademark & Licensing
          • Military Equipment Assembly Bill 481
  • Get Service
          • File a Police Report
          • Obtain a Traffic Collision Report
          • California Public Records Act
          • Fireworks Complaints
          • CCW Carry Concealed Weapon License
          • Request a Police Report (Victims Only)
          • Commend an Officer
          • Sites of Interest
          • FAQ’s
          • Undocumented Immigrants
          • File a Complaint
  • Crime Info
          • Crime Mapping & COMPSTAT
          • Criminal Homicide Victims
          • Missing Persons
          • Crime Prevention
          • Critical Incident Videos
          • Domestic Violence
          • Hate Crime Information
          • Human Trafficking
          • ID Theft
          • Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
            • Most Wanted
          • Racial Profiling Act Statistics (RIPA)
          • Statistical Data
          • Traffic Info
          • Unsolved Murders of LAPD Officers
  • Get Involved
          • iWatch
          • Crime Stoppers
          • Reward Bulletin
          • iWatch
          • Volunteer
          • Neighborhood Watch
  • News
          • Newsroom
          • Critical Incident Videos
          • LAPD Up Close
          • LAPD TV
  • Contact

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

  • News
  • Newsroom

Street Vendor Shot and Killed

February 28, 2009

Los Angeles:  A street vendor was shot and killed during an apparent robbery.
On Friday, February 27, 2009 at around 9:30 a.m., Rampart Area patrol officers responded to a shooting investigation with a possible victim down at 325 South Witmer Street.   When officers arrived at the location, they found the victim on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. 
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the victim to a local hospital where he failed to respond to emergency surgery and died a short time later.
The detectives’ investigation revealed the motive for the shooting was believed to be robbery.  The suspect demanded money and shot the victim after he refused to comply.  The victim, later identified as 46-year-old Cosme Gonzalez, was a street vendor who sold tamales in the neighborhood for many years. 
The suspect was described as a male Hispanic in his early 20s with a shaved head and brown eyes.  He was approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 155 pounds.   After the shooting the suspect was seen running westbound between the buildings. 
Anyone with information regarding this murder investigation is asked to contact Rampart Homicide Detectives Jeff Cortina or John Motto at (213) 484-3650.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247) or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website:  www.lapdonline.org.  All tips may remain anonymous.

View Newsroom Articles by Year

  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
bulb

Do you have any helpful information regarding this post?

Call us 24/7 at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247) to share any helpful information you have.

Wish to remain anonymous?

Call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(800-222-8477) or submit an anonymous tip through our form.

Submit an Anonymous Tip
left image
footer image
Stay Connected
  • lapd-fbFacebook
  • lapd-instagramInstagram
  • lapd-twitterTwitter
  • small youtube dark iconYouTube
QUICKLINKS
  • File a Police Report
  • Obtain a Traffic Collision Report
  • Crime Mapping
  • Join the Team
  • Police Commission
  • Reference Library
  • Contact Us
TRANSLATE THIS PAGE
Copyright ©2025 Los Angeles Police Foundation and the LAPD. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info