A 49-year-old man has been identified in connection with three attempted carjackings of women in several areas in East Los Angeles, police said Wednesday.
In the horrifying incident on November 9, some of which was captured on surveillance video, the suspect, now identified by police as Maurice LaTorre, violently attacked unsuspecting victims. It shows that there are.
The first attempt occurred around 10:40 a.m. at a gas station in the 3200 block of North Broadway, according to a Los Angeles Police Department news release.
A 49-year-old man was seen filling up his car with petrol and approaching the woman. The victim was able to get into the woman’s car and close the door, but Latorre opened the door and forced her into the car, demanding her keys and attempting to force her into the back seat.
“A brief scuffle ensued and the victim was able to remove the suspect from the vehicle,” police said in a statement. “The suspect then fled on foot.”
Hours later, just before 2 p.m., a hooded 49-year-old man was seen on surveillance video approaching the driver of a red SUV with a woman on the passenger side in the 2100 block of North Broadway in Lincoln Heights. Her children were in the back of the car.
Surveillance video of Maurice LaTorre, 49, attempting to carjack a victim on November 9, 2024 (LAPD) Maurice LaTorre, 49, attempting to carjack a victim on November 9, 2024 (LAPD) (LAPD) Surveillance video of Maurice attempting to carjack the victim on November 9, 2024 Latorre (49 years old) (LAPD) attempting to carjack the victim on November 9, 2024 Surveillance video of Maurice LaTorre (49 years old) trying to carjack the victim on November 9, 2024 (LAPD) Surveillance video of Maurice LaTorre (49 years old) trying to carjack the victim on November 9, 2024 Surveillance footage (Los Angeles Police Department) Maurice Latorre, 49, attempted to carjack victim on November 9, 2024 Wanted on trio charges East LA (Los Angeles Police Department) Attempted carjacking at LAPD
Police said Latorre demanded her keys, but the 49-year-old man casually walked away, allowing the woman to drive away.
The suspect struck again three hours later, just before 5 p.m., at a gas station in the 2900 block of East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights.
Latorre tried to get the woman out of the driver’s seat, but the woman fought back while being pulled from the car, causing them both to fall to the ground. Police said a passerby pulled the 49-year-old man away from the woman. The suspect then fled on a silver bicycle.
“Anything can happen. This world is changing every day,” Boyle Heights resident Cecilia Castillo told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo.
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Castillo comes to the Arco gas station where a third attempted carjacking occurred regularly during the night.
“I pump gas at night and I work night shifts, so yeah, it’s scary,” she said of the incident.
Boyle Heights resident Danny Diaz told KTLA that if people see something like that, they should stop it. The incident hit close to home for him, as he said something similar happened to his partner last month.
“The same thing happened to my fiancé just recently,” he explained. “While she was filling up with gas with her son in the car, some men broke in and tried to take over the car. That’s scary for us. If they got into the car with the kids in it… , you might go crazy.”
Police said Latorre was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed about 180 pounds, and had black hair and eyes.
Police are asking the public to use caution if they see Latorre, as he is considered violent and dangerous. Instead, you should call 911 immediately.
