Reward Offered for Tips on Killer of 25-Year-Old Compton Father

COMPTON, CA - Sheriff's investigators and family members appealed to the public Friday for help in identifying a suspect who gunned down a 25-year-old father in Compton last year in front of his girlfriend and young daughter.

A $10,000 reward, approved by the Compton City Council, has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect who shot and killed Robert Lucio of Compton about 11:35 a.m. on June 28 in the 1500 block of West 154th Street.

"As the young family stood together near the intersection of 154th Street and Nestor Avenue ... an unknown male suspect who drove a dark gray Kia Optima stopped his vehicle near them, exited the driver's side door and shot at the victim and his family," according to a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department statement.

"The suspect fired multiple rounds and struck Robert Lucio in the upper torso. The suspect got back into his car and fled north on Nestor Avenue and out of view."

Deputies called to the scene found the mortally wounded man, who died at a hospital, according to the sheriff's department.

The victim's family members joined Compton and sheriff's department officials at a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles to announce the reward and appeal for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, who was described as black, in his early 20s, about 6 feet tall, 250 pounds with short dark hair. The gunman wore dark clothes and the newer model Kia had tinted windows and paper plates bearing the words, "Car Pro."

Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call Toni Martinez or Eddie Brown, the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau detectives investigating the case, at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or online at http://lacrimestoppers.org.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the LASD