Man Shot to Death While Checking on Repair of Truck

BREA — A man was shot and killed Wednesday evening by a gunman who had been asking for help with his truck, apparently a ruse to steal a vehicle.

Uwe Ruediger Jurgens, 52, of Yorba Linda was shot three times while trying to check on a fellow employee who was helping another man repair a truck, Lt. Douglas Dickerson said.

“The suspect pulled up to the business driving a truck, which was stolen from Santa Ana, and asked for help,” Dickerson said.

Jurgens’ co-worker at a metal shop in the 300 block of Palm Drive went out to help the man. About 6:30 p.m., Jurgens went to check on them, police said.

Jurgens “was asking what was taking so long and the suspect shot him with a handgun,” Dickerson said.

Jurgens was shot once in the neck and twice in the torso and died an hour later at Brea Community Hospital. The co-worker was not injured.

The assailant fled in a car stolen from the co-worker. Police identified him as Ruben Sonny Martinez, 21, about 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds. He was wearing a blue sweater with blue jeans and a dark cap.

The car is a red Oldsmobile Delta 88 with California license plate 339USD, police said. Investigators are asking anyone with information of their whereabouts to call (714) 990-7623.