Andrea Vazquez – latest: Gabriel Esparza arrested for murder after kidnapping teen on date with boyfriend

23 Aug 2023 • 7:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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A missing California teen has been found dead following a violent kidnapping, police said.

Vazquez had been kidnapped over the weekend while she was in a car with her boyfriend in a Los Angeles park.

Detectives combing the area of Moreno Valley made the gruesome discovery on Monday night.

“At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park,” police said in a statement.

Gabriel Sean Esparza, 20, has been arrested in connection with the crime. Mr Esparza is facing charges of murder and kidnapping and is currently being held without bail.

Authorities said that Vazquez was shot at the parking stall area of Penn Park as she was sitting in a parked car with her boyfriend, who fled the gunfire.

When he returned to the vehicle, he “discovered blood” near it and Ms Vazquez was gone.