LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Months after a man was shot and killed in a Montecito Hills Park, L.A. Police are sharing a sketch of the suspect and news of a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Jason Cortez Nativi, 29, was found shot in the back around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 10, near a trail in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department said, adding that he was a not a resident of L.A. but of Virginia.
With no ties to gangs and no enemies in a city he did not live in, Nativi's murder in broad daylight is baffling to detectives.
“It’s something that I can’t explain and that’s the reason why I’m asking for help,” LAPD Homicide Detective Alex Abundis told KNX. "Somebody out there has information and knows what happened and who killed Jason."
The $50,000 reward being offered is a result of the L.A. City Council approving a motion by Councilman Gil Cedillo, according to NBC 4 News.
"A witness came forward who provided a sketch of a suspect he saw in the bushes holding a rifle," Cedillo said in a statement shared by the TV station.
"A thorough canvass of the area has resulted in no new leads, and as of this date, no new witnesses have provided information. We need help from community members in identifying the suspect of this horrible murder."
Officials said they hope the sizable reward will help jog someone's memory and help Nativi's family find closure by putting his killer behind bars.