Silver Lake Shooting Victim To Be Taken Off Life Support

Juan David Vasquez Loma will be taken off life support Sunday and his organs will be donated, according to his former employer, Melanie Tusquellas, owner of El Chavo restaurant on Sunset Boulevard.

The 20-year-old was in what police say is a possible road rage incident.

Juan David has remained on life support at County USC Medical Center for the past week while his mother traveled from Mexico. Her decision to donate his organs will save up to five lives, according to Tusquellas.

Juan David’s body will be transported to the LAPD morgue following Sunday’s surgery. The Mexican Consulate will then aid with his transportation back to Mexico, where he will be buried, according to Tusquellas.

Juan David has been described as a well-liked man who regularly sent funds home to his family. In addition to working at El Chavo, he had a second job delivering pizzas at Garage Pizza.

He was dropping off a colleague early Sunday morning when he was shot in the head at close range by someone in a green Toyota or Honda. The shooting is not believed to be gang-related.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Northeast homicide detectives at (213) 847-4261.

A fund to help with medical and bereavement costs has been set up by El Chavo and Garage Pizza. Contributions can be made at any Citibank branch or at El Chavo at 4441 Sunset Blvd. or at Garage Pizza at 4339 Sunset Boulevard.

Edit: An earlier version of this story stated that Juan David was 25-years-old. He was actually 20-years-old. Patch regrets the error.