Friday, Jan. 20, 2012

Search for killer of Los Banos man involves several agencies

Having a loved one die suddenly is difficult. The emotional trauma of them being killed and not knowing who did it or why is nearly unbearable.

Flora Bravo and her family do not want to suffer through that type of pain anymore.

"They're devastated, his mom was in the hospital yesterday. She can't deal with the loss, she started eating less, not drinking water, she wants to know what happened to her son," Bravo said. "It torments us, not knowing what happened."

Felipe Hernandez Bravo Jr., 23, of Los Banos, was found in the trunk of a car dead from a gunshot wound in Monterey County on New Year's Day. The Monterey County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation into the killing, but has also been in contact with the Los Banos Police and Merced County Sheriff's departments.

Which agency is responsible for solving the case depends on where Felipe was killed. That information, according to Monterey County Sheriff's spokeswoman Lisa Nash, is a "detail that hasn't been clarified."

Bravo said her family has not received much information from authorities. She said the family cannot believe someone would want Felipe dead.

"I have four brothers and four sisters. He was really quiet, he was not a troublemaker; it was not like him at all," Bravo said.

Bravo's family moved to Los Banos from Salinas about four years ago to get away from the city's rise in crime. She said Felipe still had friends in Salinas, but the family does not believe he went to see them on New Year's Eve.

The last time a family member spoke with Felipe was 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, Bravo said. The family said Felipe was still in Los Banos at the time. His body was discovered at 9:30 the next morning.

"We want justice," Bravo said. "Silence is as bad as guilt, there's someone out there who knows who did this and the truth will set them free."

Felipe, referred to by relatives as Filli, was a student at Merced College Los Banos Campus. Bravo said her brother was a sports fanatic and supported many Bay Area teams.

"He was a good brother, he was a great son, but he was an amazing uncle," Bravo said. "This has devastated all of us."

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call Monterey County sheriff's investigator Matt Davis or investigative Sgt. Terry Kaiser at (831) 755-3772 or the sheriff's tip line (888) 833-4847.