$50,000 Reward Offered for Information in Killing of Hoagies & Wings Cook

The Los Angeles City Council is offering a $50,000 reward to anyone who can produce information leading to the arrest and conviction of the men responsible for the fatal shooting of Raul Lopez, a cook at Hoagies & Wings on Ventura Boulevard.

Police and city officials will on Tuesday, July 24 hold a press conference at Hoagies & Wings' 14552 Ventura Blvd. location to announce the reward. Los Angeles City Council member Tom LaBonge, District 4 LAPD Van Nuys Area Captain Paul Snell and LAPD Van Nuys Area Homicide Detectives will also be on hand.

Lopez was fatally shot in the chest shortly after 11 p.m. on July 29  as he tried to escort out of the restaurant a group of about five young men who were causing a disturbance.

According to KTLA, Lopez was attempting to diffuse an argument that escalated after the men complained that their food was not being served quickly enough.

From KTLA:

Police say the group of men began hurling racial slurs at the restaurant's employees, prompting other customers to leave and prompting Raul to escort them out.

As Raul was walking back inside the restaurant, police say one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him.

"He's just out doing an honest day's work, trying to do the right thing, escorting them from the restaurant to diffuse the situation and puts himself in harm's way," Nuttall said.

After the shooting, the suspects, all black men in their 20s or 30s, fled in a dark-colored SUV, perhaps a Cadillac Escalade.

On July 5, to release images of the men captured by surveillance camera and to call on the public for help.

The men are described as follows:

• 6 feet, 180 pounds, athletic build, in his early 30s; 

• 6-feet-2, 300 pounds, long dreadlocks in pony tail, 30 to 35 years old; 

• 6-feet-4, 350 pounds, shaved head, gold teeth, late 30s; 

• 6-feet-5, 350 to 400 pounds, shoulder-length hair, mid-30s 

• 6-feet-4, 300 to 350 pounds, mid-30s. 

Anyone with more information about who killed Lopez was urged to call detectives at (818) 374-0040.

"He was a good man."

Shortly after the killing,

"We will be providing donation boxes at the Sherman Oaks and La Cienega Blvd locations for those who would like to help Raul's family," Mashaka wrote in the letter. "Additionally, Hoagies & Wings will be donating 10% of all online orders placed on the Hoagies & Wings website www.hoagiesandwings.com from the Sherman Oaks location through July to Raul's family. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Raul's family. He was a good man and will be greatly missed."

At the press conference held on July 5, Lopez's eldest son Meleiso Lopez remembered his father as hard working man who was committed to his family.

"He was a very responsible man," his oldest son, Melesio Lopez, said. "He loved his family... and I just want justice."