Co-Workers Raise Money for Family of Murdered Man

Workers at Farmers Insurance headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard were in tears as they waited in line at the company cafeteria Monday.

Juan Jose Barajas, the man who greeted them most every day at the cashier's stand, would not be back.

They'd heard the news about his shooting death on television over the weekend.

Now they were seeing the awful truth as his manager, Camille, manned what was usually his check-out station.

Farmers Workers Decide to Help

Some of them decided to create a credit union account for co-workers to donate to help the family.

Though the firm would not tell us exactly how much has been raised, Doris Dunn, Community Relations Manager at Farmers, said there has been tremendous response.

That account is now accessible to the public.

Click here to go to the Barajas Family Fund website, where you can donate by credit card.

There is also information about mailing in a donation at the site.

Man Worked at Farmers for 15 Years

Camille, who asked that her last name not be used, told Echo Park Patch that Barajas had worked at the Farmers Insurance cafeteria for 15 years.

He became an employee of Eurest Dining Services in 2004, when the contractor took over operations at cafeteria.

Camille said Barajas was "good spirited, a very genuine human being. His wife, Maricruz, was about to get her citizenship too."

One commentor on the Patch added:

He worked extremely hard at a far from glorious job, and I always respected him for it. I never knew he had a family, and knowing that now that makes this even worse. I also never took the time to engage him in much conversation, and now I won't get the chance.

Meantime, the family continues to grieve, with nightly rosaries on the back patio of their Witmer apartment house.

Service Set for Tuesday

A service for Barajas has also been set for Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Groman's Mortuary at 830 W. Washington.

Jorge Barajas, Juan Jose's brother, expects many from Farmers to attend.

The day after the service the family will travel with the body to Cojumatlan, a town in in the state of Michoacan in Mexico, where Juan Jose will be buried near other family members.

Jorge Barajas said Thursday that "everyone is doing fine."  But, he added, "We'll see if that changes when we go to Mexico."

Rampart officers visited the family Wednesday with gifts for Barajas's four children, aged 2 to 17.

Few Leads in the Case

Detective Chris Linscomb says the police are working on the few leads they have in the case.

The neighborhood--which abuts Good Samaritan Hospital and a new retail and nightlife zone developing along Seventh Street--is still plagued by gang violence.

So many, including family members, worry witnesses to the drive-by shooting may be fearful of relaliation.

One cousin of Barajas told me Thursday that she lived just a few doors away and heard nothing on Saturday night.

Anyone with information can call Detective Linscomb directly at (213) 484-3642.