Young grandfather shot dead while trying to tackle catalytic-converter thieves

A young grandfather was fatally shot while attempting to confront catalytic converter thieves outside his California home — just moments after he tried to flag down help, according to authorities and footage.

Juan Sanchez, 48, was leaving his Inglewood home for work at 3:22 a.m. last Tuesday when he sprang into action trying to stop thieves by his neighbor’s car, according to door cam footage obtained by ABC 7.

Sanchez approached the thieves as one of them crawled under a vehicle with a saw and threatened Sanchez with a metal bar, according to the footage.

As the violent confrontation unfolded, Sanchez waved frantically at a fire engine, believed to be an L.A. County vehicle, as it drove down the street and out of view, the troubling video showed.

Seconds later, Sanchez was shot in the chest and killed, according to the Inglewood Police Department.

The suspects, believed to be in a gold 2002-2006 Toyota Camry, then sped off down the street, cops said

Sanchez was described as a “devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, and a cherished friend to so many.”

“My brother frantically waves them down, and they drove past my brother, and about two seconds later, he was shot in the chest,” Sanchez’s sister, Susana Sanchez, told ABC 7.

“It’s upsetting. It’s just a thought of what could’ve happened at that moment, they were right next to my brother, if they would have stopped, they would’ve saved a life,” Susana said.

“We have many more questions,” the grieving sister said. “From the criminals — just finding justice. From the fire department — why didn’t you stop? Or why didn’t you return as soon as you heard the gunshot when you were at the end of the block?” Susana told the outlet.

“It’s been a very difficult time trying to understand how somebody could do this to another human being,” she said. 

One of the suspects was described as a heavy-set Hispanic man, around 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6. The second suspect, who was driving the getaway vehicle, was only described as a man, according to information and photos released by police.

Sanchez was an employee at Clean Harbors, an environmental and industrial service company, his family told the outlet. He was just recently promoted after completing a project in the Palisades Fire zone

He leaves behind “his beloved wife, two wonderful children, and his precious grandchild,” according to the fundraiser, which raised nearly $40,000 as of Monday morning.

About The Author

Stephen Collopy

See author's posts