Community Rallies Around Family Of Teen Shot In Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A street race in the heart of Hollywood erupted in deadly chaos Sunday, taking the life of a 17-year-old old girl and ending with a 33-year-old Texas man in jail on suspicion of murder.

According to police and friends of the victim, Alejandra "Ale" Estrada of Huntington Park, was an innocent bystander when she was shot amid a melee at the scene of a street race at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The tragedy was captured on a cell-phone video widely circulated on social media. A short time after the shooting, police arrested Ramon Roque Monreal, of El Paso, on suspicion of murder. He is being held in lieu of $3 million bail, according to jail records.

According to Los Angeles Police Officer Kevin Snare, Monreal pulled out a gun during a brawl that erupted at the scene of the street race just after midnight Sunday morning at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The sound of bullets ring out on the cell phone video as men grapple in the foreground. The video shifts to the side where someone can be seen cradling Estrada.

A large group of people was gathered at the popular Hollywood intersection after the race, leading to the fight, during which somebody — allegedly Monreal — pulled out a gun and fired at least two shots.

According to reports from the scene, another man was also shot but suffered only minor injuries, and took himself to a hospital. Monreal was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies around 3:45 a.m. Sunday in the area of 223rd and Figueroa streets.

Monreal was in possession of a firearm, the LAPD said.

Friends of the teen killed in the shooting gathered at the scene throughout the day Sunday, particularly Sunday night, leaving candles and pictures, and writing messages.

On a GoFundMe page, which had raised more than $22,000 as of Monday morning, the girl was described as "one of a kind and the life of the party."

"Yesterday around midnight, Ale was caught in crossfire at a car show and was shot and killed instantly," according to the page. "This hit everybody by surprise. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and unfortunately it cost her her life. She will forever live in our hearts."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.