Inglewood man fired during catalytic converter theft. The suspect was arrested
Authorities say two men were arrested for the death of a man who was shot dead while trying to stop the catalytic converter theft in Ingwood.
Homicide detectives at the Inglewood Police Department arrested Wilver Alberto Rabanales, 40, and Jose Christian Saravia Sanchez, on Thursday night, executed a search warrant at a motel in Cudahy on Thursday night. Sanchez’s age has not been released yet.
Police said both suspects were booked at Ingwood Prison. La Banales will be held on $2 million bail and will be held in court Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s inmate log. Sanchez’s bail and appearance information could not be established immediately Friday night.
Police said 48-year-old Juan “Johnny” Sanchez was shot dead in the 1000 block of North Chester Avenue in Ingwood at about 3:22 a.m. on February 25. When police said he tried to prevent two people from stealing their neighbor’s catalytic converter, one of them shot him in the chest.
Police searched the suspects who were caught in a golden Toyota Camry with tinted windows and sunroof from the golden Toyota Camry. The department later said the community had provided important assistance in identifying two suspects.
Juan Sanchez’s family described him as “a devout husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather and a cherished friend, who has so many friends for many,” and as of Friday the event raised more than $44,500.
“He is the kind of person who always puts others in front of him, the hand that provides help, the ears of hearing or the smile that can brighten even the darkest days.” “His strength, wisdom and generosity are the foundation of his family, and his losses leave gaps that can never be filled.”
Catalytic converter theft is an increasingly serious problem in Southern California as thieves target emission control devices for high-value metals such as platinum, palladium and diamonds.
Theft can be difficult to stop because it takes only a few minutes to steal the equipment, which makes it difficult for police to catch people in the bill. And, once adopted, it is nearly impossible for these devices to track a particular car.
To address this, the police department has begun a free event where drivers can get unique identification numbers in their converters. In 2023, the Los Angeles City Council voted to have a non-fixed catalytic converter without proof of ownership.
Data released by the Los Angeles Police Department last year showed that in the first half of 2024, 2,113 catalytic converters were stolen in Los Angeles. This number does not include Ingwood or unincorporated persons in Los Angeles County.
Police said in a notorious incident, “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor fatally shot several men in downtown Los Angeles last May in an attempt to remove a catalytic converter from the car. Three months later, prosecutors charged four men in connection with the crime.
