Good Man Dies Stopping Thieves From Stealing Car Parts

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A tragic incident unfolded in Inglewood, California, when a good Samaritan lost his life attempting to prevent the theft of a catalytic converter by two individuals who were in the country illegally.

Juan Sanchez, who confronted the thieves, was fatally wounded when at least one of the suspects opened fire, striking him in the chest. The incident left behind a grieving wife and two children.

Law enforcement successfully apprehended the suspects, identified as Wilver Alberto Rabanales and Jose Christian Saravia Sanchez, following a thorough investigation. The arrests took place at a motel in Cudahy on Thursday evening after executing a search warrant.

GRAPHIC: Johnny Sanchez was shot and killed in LA when he went outside and confronted two men who were breaking into a car.

Both killers are in our country illegally and have long criminal histories.

Sanchez leaves behind a wife and 2 children.pic.twitter.com/duHYc7ojJU

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 9, 2025

The Inglewood Police Department credited the community’s crucial assistance in helping homicide detectives identify both suspects. The breakthrough led to their discovery and subsequent arrest at the Cudahy motel location.

“The fundraiser, raising money for his funeral, called Sanchez a ‘devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, and a cherished friend to so many.’ His family told KTLA that he’d recently received a promotion at work after helping out Los Angeles fire victims.”

Surveillance footage obtained from a nearby Ring camera, shared by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, captured Sanchez’s final moments. The video shows him attempting to flag down a passing fire truck for assistance before making the fateful decision to confront the suspects, which resulted in his death.

So, both suspects, one between 2014-2025, and the other between 2021-2025, got CA drivers licenses, received probationary services, served prison time in county jail because of AB109, got the use of court appointed defense attorneys, received plea deals, never paid any taxes to… https://t.co/eA6UK49BQk

— jonathanhatami (@jonathanhatami) March 8, 2025

Further investigation revealed both suspects were not only in the country illegally but also had significant criminal histories.

Rabanales, originally from Guatemala, has accumulated an extensive criminal record spanning 11 pages, with multiple arrests in Los Angeles County. His charges include weapons violations, burglary, drug offenses, and grand theft.

The second suspect, Saravia Sanchez, a native of El Salvador, carries a six-page criminal record. His previous arrests in Los Angeles County include charges of kidnapping, concealed weapon possession, grand theft, drug possession, and possession of burglary tools.