Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor ROSEMEAD - Investigators released Friday an image of the 16-year-old boy who is still missing and sought in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash.
Mariano Coc, a South El Monte teen, was last seen November 7. He had access to the 2009 Nissan Altima that was witnessed running over and fatally injuring a pedestrian in Rosemead one day later, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. According to two independent eyewitness statements, the person behind the wheel of the Altima that struck the pedestrian did not match Coc’s description, which is why detectives believe Coc may be the victim of a crime. “Right now he is listed as a person of interest because he was last seen with that vehicle by the registered owner of that vehicle,” according to Sgt. Richard Lewis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station. “We do not know if he was present at the time of the incident, or the driver of the incident.” The eyewitness statements describe the suspect driver as a light-skin male Hispanic or Caucasian between 20 to 30 years old, Lewis said. Coc had previously runaway in 2020. He has no criminal history, Lewis said. Deputies initially responded to the 2700 block of San Gabriel Boulevard around 10:38 a.m. Monday to a reported vehicle versus pedestrian south of Garvey Avenue and found a victim laying in traffic lanes and bleeding from the head. Possibly a traffic collision between the driver of the Altima and the other driver, identified as 61-year-old Riverside man Haiou He, led to an argument. He exited his vehicle and walked to the driver side of the Altima. During the argument, the Altima was accelerated in reverse and dragged He underneath causing major injuries, Lewis said. He died on Wednesday, November 10 at County/USC Medical Center at 8:30 p.m. The Altima was found abandoned the same day in South El Monte. Detectives located the owner of the vehicle and eventually learned of Coc’s disappearance, Lewis said. “The family and the registered owner of the vehicle allow the child to take the vehicle and have possession of the vehicle and they could not tell us that he had any business near the intersection of San Gabriel and Garvey,” Lewis said, adding he is an unlicensed teen who may not even have a learners permit. Coc stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 145 pounds and was last seen wearing a tan tank top, light-colored jeans and black slip-on sandals. Anyone with information on Coc’s whereabouts or who may have witnessed any aspect of the vehicle versus pedestrian incident, or what may have led up to the verbal argument is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station and speak with Detective Bravo at 626-292-3389, or email kbravo@lasd.org. |
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