CHINO — A homicide investigation is currently underway in Chino after a male subject was reportedly found dead in a parking lot on April 2, 2023.
According to a press release, Chino Police officers responded to a call about a possible dead body on the 5400 block of Philadelphia Avenue. There they located the victim, who appeared to have been shot. The victim, later identified as Philip Hernandez, a 51-year-old resident of Chino, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and officers confirmed that the subject was the victim of a homicide.
Detectives working on the case have identified three suspects involved in the shooting death of Hernandez, and it is believed that all four subjects knew or were acquainted with each other, police said.
On April 3, Taylor Sanchez, a 21-year-old resident of Chino, was arrested in the 13300 block of Central Avenue in Chino for his involvement in the shooting. After a search warrant was served at his residence, Sanchez was booked at West Valley Detention Center for Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
On April 6, detectives served a search warrant in the 12900 block of 4th Street in Chino, where they arrested Carlos Lugo Meza Sr., a 62-year-old resident of Chino, for his involvement in the shooting. Meza was later booked at West Valley Detention Center for Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
The third suspect, Manuel Malgra, a 45-year-old resident of Chino, has not been located, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Malgra is described as a Hispanic adult male, 5′ 7″ tall, 280 pounds, balding, with brown hair, brown eyes, and tattoos on his left hand and back. Malgra should be considered armed and dangerous.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are currently following up on several leads. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact Detective Frank Wilson at (909)334-3126. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Malgra, they are encouraged to call the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.
