Who is Andrea Vazquez? California teenager, 19, goes missing during shooting in park, family begs for help
WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA: The family of a teenaged girl is urgently seeking assistance to locate her, alleging she was kidnapped during a shooting.
Andrea Vazquez, 19, went missing after an armed man opened fire at Penn Park in Whittier, California. She was accompanied by her boyfriend at the time of the shooting.
Where is Andrea Vazquez?
After her boyfriend briefly left the scene and returned, Vazquez was reportedly nowhere to be found. Vazquez's sister, Edlyn, believes she was abducted during this interval.
Utilizing the Find My iPhone feature, Edlyn managed to briefly track Vazquez to Moreno Valley after the incident.
The family has reported the situation to the police, and a retired detective supervisor from the LAPD is aiding in the efforts.
Vazquez is described as a Hispanic woman standing at 5 feet 3 inches, with brownish-red hair, brown eyes and distinctive tattoos.
She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve crop top, khaki pants and black low-top Converse sneakers.
Notable tattoos include one on the back of her neck reading "Edlyn," an Aries constellation tattoo on the top of her right hand and a belly button piercing.
Edlyn told ABC News, "As [her boyfriend] turned his back to ask for help, in that moment, my sister was kidnapped."
She added, "I tracked [her] to ... going down the 60. I started following it and the location stopped in Moreno Valley, and that's the last known location that I have of her."
Retired LAPD detective supervisor Moses Castillo said, "We believe that Andrea was hit, that's according to her boyfriend who saw blood coming out somewhere from her body."
He added, "We do know that this case led us all the way to Moreno Valley. She can be anywhere from Riverside County to L.A. County. We're very concerned."
Edlyn expressed her anguish, stating, "She doesn't deserve this. She's such a good person. It's really hard to just wrap our heads around it. It's hard to sleep."
Edlyn added, "I feel guilty for resting. We have a lot of support, a lot of family that's been in and out. I don't even know how we're coping."
Whittier Police Department launches search for Andrea Vazquez
The Whittier Police Department posted information about the case on their Instagram page, stating that detectives were actively investigating the matter and pursuing all leads.
Both the family and law enforcement were anybody with any information to come forward.
“We are investigating a reported shooting and kidnapping incident that took place shortly after midnight on 8/20/23 in the parking stalls area of Penn Park located at 13950 Penn Street in Whittier," their post read.
“An adult male witness reported that while at the park with an adult female companion, an armed suspect approached their vehicle and fired a weapon in their direction," the post added.
“The male witness ran from the location and upon his return, discovered blood near his vehicle and his female companion was missing," the post further stated.
"Detectives are actively working this investigation and following up on all leads,” it concluded.
You may also report information to Detective Jose Bolanos at 562-328-8504 or Detective Tom Nordbak at 562-244-0054. Information can also be provided anonymously to our crime tipline at 562-567-9299.
Press contact for this incident is Officer Tommy Mattsson, tmattsson@cityofwhittier.org 562-244-0045.