Item 5 - CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A REWARD FUND FOR THE GABRIELA DE HARO-PEREZ CASEAGENDA ITEM NO. 5
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
DATE: October 18, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A REWARD FUND FOR THE
GABRIELA DE HARO-PEREZ CASE
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the establishment of a
reward fund to further support the investigation of the Gabriela De Haro-Perez case:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-100 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, OFFERING A REWARD IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UP TO FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) FOR THE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE
DETERMINATION OF THE IDENTITY, APPREHENSION, AND CONVICTION OF THE PERSON
OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JANUARY 2, 2021 SHOOTING NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF AZUSA AVENUE AND AMAR ROAD THAT LEAD TO THE DEATH OF
GABRIELA DE HARO-PEREZ
BACKGROUND:
On January 2, 2021, at approximately 10:16 p.m., West Covina Police Department received a call of a
shooting in the area of Azusa Avenue and Amar Road. Gabriela De Haro-Perez and her husband were
driving in the area when a shooting occurred and, as a result, Gabriela was struck by the shooter.
Officers arrived and found Gabriela De Haro-Perez suffering from a gunshot wound. Ms. De Haro-Perez
was transported to a local hospital where she eventually succumbed to her injuries.
City Council has requested a reward be offered in the amount of up to $50,000 for information leading to
the identity, apprehension, and conviction of those responsible for the crime.
DISCUSSION:
The attached resolution provides for a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.
The terms of the reward provide that:
1. The information given that leads to the determination of the identity, the apprehension, and
conviction of any person or persons must be given to the West Covina Police Department no
later than October 18, 2023;
2. All reward claims must be in writing and shall be received by the City Clerk no later than
November 18, 2023;
3. The total City payments of any and all rewards shall in no event exceed $50,000 and no
claim shall be paid prior to conviction unless the City Council makes a finding of impossibility
of conviction due to the death or incapacity of the person or persons responsible for the crime
or crimes;
4. The City's reward may be apportioned between various persons and/or paid for the
conviction of various persons as the circumstances dictate;
5. Rewards shall only be paid to the person if the information is given voluntarily, at the person's
own initiative; and
6. Rewards shall not be paid as part of any plea bargain.
If anyone believes to have information which could lead to the conviction of the criminal(s) involved in
this matter, you are asked to contact the West Covina Police Department's Detective Bureau at (626)
939-8500 and refer to Case Number 21-32.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the resolution and approved it as to form.
Fiscal Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
Monies for any possible payment of the reward will be paid from General Fund unassigned fund
balance, account no. 110.31.3110.6571, Reward - Crimes. The exact amount awarded will be
appropriated through a future budget amendment following the disbursement of funds.
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 - Resolution No. 2022-100
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Protect Public Safety
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-100
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, OFFERING A REWARD IN
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($50,000) FOR THE INFORMATION LEADING
TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE IDENTITY,
APPREHENSION, AND CONVICTION OF THE PERSON
OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JANUARY 2,
2021 SHOOTING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF AZUSA
AVENUE AND AMAR ROAD THAT LEAD TO THE DEATH
OF GABRIELA DE HARO-PEREZ
WHEREAS, the City of West Covina ("City") may offer and pay rewards as
authorized by Section 53069.5 of the Government Code of the State of California
("Section 53069.5"); and
WHEREAS, Section 53069.5 authorizes the City to offer and pay a reward, the
amount thereof to be determined by the City, for information leading to the determination
of the identity of, and the apprehension of, any person whose willful misconduct results
in injury or death to any person; and
WHEREAS, on January 2, 2021 near the intersection of Azusa Avenue and Amar
Road, a shooting took place resulting in the death of 29-year-old victim Gabriela De Haro-
Perez, a West Covina resident; and
WHEREAS, investigators with the West Covina Police Department have worked
tirelessly to solve this unsolved crime; and
WHEREAS, investigators believe that there may be witnesses with information to
this crime who have not yet come forward; and
WHEREAS, the offer of a reward is consistent with and is taken for the protection
of public peace, health, and safety; and
WHEREAS, the offense was of such a nature or committed under special
circumstances that as a matter of public policy, the City should provide a reward as an
added inducement or incentive for persons to come forward with information leading to
the arrest of the perpetrator(s); and
WHEREAS, the offense was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel and
manifested exceptional depravity; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to provide additional resources to further
support the investigation into the shooting of Ms. De Haro-Perez by establishing a reward
in the amount of $50,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein
by reference.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby approves and authorizes a reward in the
total amount of $50,000.00 (the "Reward") for information leading to the determination of
the identity of, and the apprehension of, any person responsible for the acts stated above.
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(a) The information given that leads to the determination of the identity,
the apprehension, and conviction of any person or persons must be
given no later than October 18, 2023 to the West Covina Police
Department.
(b) The total City payments of any and all rewards shall in no event
exceed $50,000.00 and no claim shall be paid prior to conviction
unless the West Covina City Council makes a finding of impossibility
of conviction due to the death or incapacity of the person or persons
responsible for the crime or crimes. The Reward may be apportioned
between various persons and/or paid for the conviction of various
persons as the circumstances dictate. Rewards shall only be paid to
the person if the information is given voluntarily, at the person's own
initiative. Rewards shall not be paid as part of any plea bargain.
(c) Any claims for the Reward shall be filed in writing, no later than
November 18, 2023, with the City Clerk of the City of West Covina,
1444 W. Garvey Avenue South, West Covina, California, Attention:
Gabriela De Haro-Perez Reward Fund.
SECTION 4. The offer of reward will be effective for a period of one (1) year from
the adoption of this resolution unless further extended by the City Council. The offer of
reward shall terminate by payment, by revocation or by withdrawal thereof by the City
Council by resolution or minute action adopted by a majority of the City Council or by
expiration of the time period set forth in this resolution.
SECTION 5. All decisions with respect to the relevance or materiality of
information received, whether or not utilized in establishing the determination of the
identity of and the apprehension of, any one or more persons, and whether such
information provides a basis for the payment of a reward, are within the sole discretion of
the City Council.
SECTION 6. All determinations affecting, or dispositive of, the offer of reward,
shall be within the sole discretion of the City Council and shall be final.
SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall
enter the same in the book of original resolutions and it shall become effective
immediately.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of October, 2022.
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Thomas P. Duarte
City Attorney
Dario Castellanos
Mayor
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Lisa Sherrick
Assistant City Clerk
I, LISA SHERRICK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina,
California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2022-100 was duly adopted
by the City Council of the City of West Covina, California, at a regular meeting thereof
held on the 18th day of October, 2022, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Lisa Sherrick
Assistant City Clerk