On August 22, 2025, Anthony Velasquez, 35, was sentenced to 150 years to life in prison for the murders of three people in East Los Angeles. A jury convicted him earlier in the week on three counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Jesse Avalos, 34, Eduardo Robles, 38, and Amanda Nicole Lopez, 27. During sentencing, family members of the victims confronted Velasquez, describing him as a “certified homicidal serial killer” who showed no remorse. Velasquez has continued to claim innocence, and his defense attorney has already filed an appeal.
Victims Killed Within Two Miles of Each Other
Prosecutors said Velasquez carried out the shootings between 2014 and 2018, targeting victims who lived near him in East Los Angeles. They alleged he killed the three because he felt “disrespected” by them. Investigators later determined that the same firearm was used in at least two of the shootings, helping link Velasquez to the crimes. Each murder took place within a two-mile radius, heightening community fears of a serial killer operating in the neighborhood.
The Killing of Jesse Avalos
The first victim, Jesse Avalos, was shot on February 10, 2014. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Avalos had been helping a friend jumpstart a vehicle near Telegraph Road and Arizona Avenue around 11 p.m. Hours later, deputies found him slumped in the driver’s seat of his SUV, shot multiple times. His killing stunned the community and remained unsolved for years.
Eduardo Robles Fatally Shot After Dispute
On July 6, 2015, Eduardo Robles was killed just blocks away from where Avalos had been found. Authorities said Robles was shot several times in the upper torso after an argument broke out in a driveway on Eagle Street. Witnesses reported seeing the confrontation escalate quickly before gunfire erupted. Like Avalos’s death, Robles’s murder went unsolved for years until ballistics linked the shootings together.
Amanda Lopez Killed in Homeless Encampment
The third victim, Amanda Nicole Lopez, was murdered on April 22, 2018. She had been sleeping in a tent near a homeless encampment when Velasquez allegedly shot her multiple times in the torso. Family members said Lopez had struggled with housing instability but was deeply loved. Her mother spoke directly to Velasquez in court, calling him “heartless” and vowing her daughter would never be forgotten.
Break in the Case and Arrest
In 2021, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced an $80,000 reward for information about the killings, noting that witnesses had been present at each crime scene. Ballistics evidence eventually connected the murders, leading investigators to Velasquez. He was arrested in September 2021 and charged with all three murders. Despite the convictions, Velasquez has continued to deny responsibility, insisting he was wrongfully accused.
