Friends and customers placed candles and flowers at a South Los Angeles street corner Saturday night where a father was gunned down at his taco stand two days before Father's Day.
"There was times when people didn't have money to eat and he would let them have it for free," said customer Angel Rayon, who remembers meeting the victim, Alvaro Mata, a year ago.
Police said Mata, a 30-year-old husband and father, was held up at gunpoint by at least two men just before 11 p.m. at East 51st Street and McKinley Avenue. He was killed during the suspected robbery attempt.
"Seems like he was a really nice person, he got along well with everyone, joked around with everyone. Everyone really liked him," Rayon said. "It's pretty sad, pretty sad. One day before Father's Day and he's dead, not being able to be with his family."
Mata's family hopes to raise enough funds to send his body back to Mexico.
A description of the gunmen has yet to be released.
Investigators were in the process of obtaining surveillance footage in the area and searching for witnesses to interview.
