Young man, 19, found shot to death inside crashed car in Pasadena identified

A 19-year-old man found shot to death inside his crashed vehicle in a Pasadena neighborhood has been identified by family members.   Details of the March 26 incident in the 700 block of Rio Grande Street, near El Molino, are limited and it’s unclear exactly how the deadly shooting unfolded, but it was around 6 p.m. when police first received reports of the crash.   Aerial footage from Sky5 showed officers with the Pasadena Police Department at the scene, where the victim, now identified as El Monte resident Ivan Cervantes-Cruz, had jumped the curb and crashed his vehicle into what appeared to be a home’s retaining wall.  Medical personnel with the Pasadena Fire Department responded to the location and, despite life-saving measures, declared the victim deceased. One witness to the crash said he was driving on the street when he saw the man’s vehicle traveling at a high speed before it ran into what appears to be a resident’s front yard retaining wall.    The witness said he noticed the wheels on the vehicle continued to spin even after the collision and that both he and a nearby resident approached the car and saw the victim slumped over inside with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.    In a GoFundMe organized for the 19-year-old's family, Cervantes-Cruz was remembered as “one of the most kind-hearted, caring and loving people you could ever meet...his character was built on respect, kindness, and a strong sense of responsibility.” Anyone with information about the investigation is encouraged to contact investigators with the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.