East Los Angeles — For years, a small house tucked between busy freeways and a cemetery harbored a notorious father-son duo, implicated in a string of violent attacks that left three individuals dead. Detective Ray Lugo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating the case since it began in 2014, linking the victims to Anthony Velasquez and his father, Manuel. Despite compelling evidence, including a previous altercation and ballistic data, the two eluded justice for years due to a climate of fear in their isolated community.
The neighborhood, described by Lugo as an “island” cut off from the wider East Los Angeles, fostered a tight-knit atmosphere where residents would often refuse to speak out against one another. This solidarity among the community members made it nearly impossible for authorities to gather witnesses or testimonies against the Velasquez family. “That community is really, really tight,” Lugo noted, highlighting the reluctance of neighbors to come forward amidst intimidation.
Anthony Velasquez, described as a reclusive figure, was living in the home purchased by his grandparents. He had claimed employment as a custodian but rarely left the confines of his residence. His father, a driveway mechanic, also tended to stay indoors, making them both enigmatic figures in a community already rife with distrust.
The violence began in 2014 with the murder of Jesús Avalos, a man connected to Velasquez through mutual friends. After a heated confrontation, Avalos was found shot in his vehicle, the circumstances surrounding the event shrouded in mystery and fear, as no one stepped forward to identify the shooter. Lugo indicated that the community’s fear played a crucial role in this ongoing silence.
The pattern of violence continued with Eduardo Robles, another associate of Velasquez, who was fatally shot in 2015. According to witnesses, moments before his death, Robles had confronted Velasquez regarding Avalos’ murder, leading to a series of escalating events. “From the outside, you’re like, ‘Duh — if I saw something like that, I’d share that information,’” noted Deputy District Attorney Negin Mostadim, emphasizing the pervasive fear of retaliation in the area.
Another tragic death occurred in 2018 when Amanda Nicole Lopez, a former friend of Velasquez, was murdered in a homeless encampment. Prosecutors claimed that Velasquez felt betrayed, believing his efforts to help her were unreciprocated. After these killings, Detective Lugo faced discouragement; the lack of witnesses and evidence made securing an arrest daunting.
In 2021, after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered a reward for tips related to the case, the tide began to turn. As fear diminished, witnesses slowly came forward, providing crucial information that would lead to the arrests of both Antohny and Manuel Velasquez. This was a significant breakthrough for a case that had seen little progress for years.
During the investigation, Lugo utilized innovative tactics to extract a confession. Anthony was placed in a jail cell equipped with hidden microphones, where he inadvertently admitted to multiple murders. His recorded conversations revealed chilling details, including his methodical approach to evading law enforcement. “I go to sleep like a baby,” he stated, demonstrating a disturbing lack of remorse.
Ultimately, in a courtroom filled with grief-stricken relatives, Anthony Velasquez was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to 150 years to life in prison. His father, Manuel, accepted a plea deal in February, acknowledging his role in the aftermath of the crimes. Prosecutor Catherine Mariano expressed that Manuel had consistently acted in loyalty to his son throughout the ordeal.
As the case drew to a close, Lugo reflected on the years of investigation that he committed to securing justice for the victims. The shadow of the Velasquez family’s reign of terror looms large, but for the community, there is a glimmer of hope that the cycle of violence may finally be broken.