Big reward in slaying case Big reward in slaying case (April 15, 2005)

City offers $10,000 in probe that has gone cold

By Allison Gerard

Three months after a tip hotline went silent and endless leads turned up worthless, Mountain View police are hoping a $10,000 reward will produce information to help find the person responsible for 17-year-old Alex Fernandez's murder.

It has been almost seven months since Alex was gunned down while walking on Rengstorff Avenue last September, and the police say they have exhausted all means of identifying suspects. In addition to the hotline, police have also canvassed the surrounding neighborhoods with fliers, conducted numerous interviews and used outside agencies for additional help.

"This has obviously been the top priority for the department the last six months," said police spokesperson Jim Bennett. "But it's come to a point where no new information is coming in, and the next logical step is to offer a reward."

The city council voted unanimously to set aside the reward money. Officials believe a similar reward helped lead to the arrests of three suspects, one of whom is currently on trial, in the 2003 murder of Doris Condon.

Alex, a junior at Los Altos High School, and two friends were walking down Rengstorff Avenue near Latham Street on Sept. 24, when a car slowed down alongside them and someone from inside opened fire. Alex was shot once in his chest and once in his lower body. He was later declared dead at Stanford Hospital.

At this point the only concrete piece of evidence police have is a description of the alleged suspect's car -- a red or burgundy Honda Accord, Honda Civic or Dodge Stratus with tinted side windows and chrome wheels.

Police are suspicious that the murder is gang-related and following the shooting have held a forum on gang awareness at Los Altos High School to educate students.

No possibility has been ruled out, police say, but more information is needed to identify the people involved. Investigators hope the reward will encourage anyone who has information to come forward.

Alex's mother, Edith Fernandez, is also hopeful that the reward will mean that whoever is responsible for her son's murder will be caught. She describes her son as a good boy and says she will not rest until his killer is found. She said she is confident she will receive the necessary help and hopes Alex's killer is caught, not just for her own peace of mind, but for the community's as well.

"I hope the community is able to see the reality of these issues and for the violence to stop," she said through a translator.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Mountain View police tip line at 570-8211. People can also call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.
E-mail Allison Gerard at agerard@mv-voice.com

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