Fullerton College student Andrea Vazquez was found dead in a vegetation field in Moreno Valley, approximately 57 miles away from where she was last seen alive on Monday night, according to a Whittier Police Department press release.
Vazquez, 19, had gone missing briefly after midnight Sunday following a shooting incident that took place at Penn Park in the city of Whittier.
20-year-old Gabriel Esparza was arrested Monday afternoon for kidnapping and murder in relation to the shooting at Penn Park and Vazquez’s disappearance.
A weapon believed to be used in the crime and Esparza’s 2013 Toyota Tacoma were recovered at Esparza’s job in Lakewood. He is being held by the Whittier Police Department with no bail.
Fullerton College President Cynthia Olivo has deployed Vice President of Student Services Gil Contreras to help the community heal. Students who were enrolled in courses alongside Vazquez as well as faculty who taught her will be informed and the college’s campus psychologist team will be ready to reach out to all students and faculty in any way they can.
“This afternoon we learned of the tragic murder of one of our students Andrea Vazquez,” Olivo said in an email to Fullerton College staff. “If you knew Andrea-we extend our condolences to you and are here for you. We send our love to her parents, family and friends.”
Investigation teams and law enforcement departments from Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Downey, and La Habra have assisted Whittier PD with the arrest and ongoing investigation.
Whittier PD is planning to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.
There will be a follow-up story and update to this story as it continues to unfold.
