Mystery Of Last Unidentified Victim Of 1992 LA Riots Solved

LOS ANGELES, CA — The last unidentified victim of the 1992 Los Angeles riots has been identified as an 18-year-old man originally from Mexico, the coroner's office confirmed Friday.

Armando Ortiz Hernandez, whose city of residence was unknown, was found dead about 2 p.m. on May 2, 1992 in an auto parts store in the area of 59th Street and Vermont Avenue, according to Ed Winter, Assistant Chief with the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

His cause of death was listed as inhalation of smoke, soot and carbon monoxide. The young man also had suffered burns, Winter said.

He was identified on April 6 from a single fingerprint, according to Winter, who said the investigation was assisted by the FBI's Disaster Victims Identification Unit.

Hernandez' next of kin were then located and notified with the assistance of the Mexican Consulate, Winter said.

The owner of the shop where Hernandez was found told authorities that the victim did not work for him but that he had previously seen him in the area, Winter said.

Hernandez was one of 58 people killed in the April 29-May 4, 1992 riots, which erupted after four Los Angeles Police Department officers were acquitted of excessive force charges related to the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King at end of a car chase on March 3, 1991 in the Lake View Terrace area.

City News Service; Photo: The intersection of Florence and Normandy Avenues in South Los Angeles on April 27, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The intersection was the scene of the beating of truck driver Reginald Denny on April 29, 1992 during the early stages of the Los Angeles riots. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images News/Getty Images)