Marine’s Family Pleads for Help in Finding Killer

Giovanni Valencia used to sneak up on his mother and, in a playful act of tender roughhousing, give her a vigorous bearhug that “cracked” her back.

Countless such gestures of affection ended three weeks ago with the death of the young Marine lance corporal. Valencia, 19, was on leave when he was killed by a gunman Aug. 5 after a brief altercation at an MTA bus stop.

At a news conference Tuesday, Councilman Nate Holden announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer, whom police say may have been a student.

In an emotional plea for the public’s help, Valencia’s mother said her son dreamed of joining the FBI and traveling.

“His dreams are only dreams now,” Claudett Valencia said. “I can only imagine what my son’s life would have been like.”

Valencia was walking with a friend near La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard when an argument with the killer escalated into a brief exchange of blows, said LAPD Det. Robert Felix.

Valencia’s friend broke up the fight and the killer moved as if to walk away, but instead pulled a gun out of a dark-colored day planner and shot Valencia in the chest, police said.

At the news conference, the victim’s older brother implored the public to help find the person who shot his brother. “No one can bring my brother back,” said Joseph Valencia Jr. “But there is something you can do to help my family recover from this. Please bring my brother’s killer to justice.”

The killer was wearing a button-down yellow shirt with light blue stripes, blue jeans and black and yellow Nike shoes. Police believe he is in his late teens or early 20s.