Arrest made in shooting, kidnapping of teen whose body was found 50 miles away in field in random attack: Police

A vigil was held for Andrea Vazquez, who went missing after a shooting at a park in California. Gabriel Esparza was arrested in the case and her body was found on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Screenshot from LA

The body of Andrea Vasquez was found in a field, and Gabriel Esparza faces charges in her murder. (Screenshot from LA’s Fox11; Vasquez and suspect photo from Whitter Police Department)

A 20-year-old man accused of shooting at a couple parked in a parking lot at a Los Angeles area park put her into the bed of his pickup truck and drove 50 miles away, where he tried to rape her before dumping her body in a field, and going to work the next day where he was arrested, prosecutors said this week.

Gabriel Sean Esparza, 20, was charged in the kidnapping, attempted rape and murder of 19-year-old Andrea Vasquez and the attempted murder of her boyfriend, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a news release this week.

“Our hearts ache for the devastating loss of a young life. The heinous nature of this crime, involving the murder, kidnapping and attempted rape of an innocent young woman, shocks our community to its core,” Gascón said. “My office will work tirelessly to hold Gabriel Esparza accountable for his callous actions against Ms. Vasquez and her partner. In these moments of profound sorrow, I send my deepest condolences to Ms. Vasquez’s family as they cope with this painful tragedy.”

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