An East Los Angeles family is reeling and calling for justice following a violent confrontation that has left Maria Guadelupe Vargas, a partially blind woman, brain dead. The altercation took place in the parking lot of a McDonald’s on Soto Street in Boyle Heights. According to KTLA, 78-year-old Jose Juan Rangel Hernandez was attacked by a homeless man through an open window while in the drive-thru.
Surveillance footage captured on March 5 shows Rangel Hernandez attempting to defend himself after stepping out of the car, only for both men to end up on the ground. Vargas, who is 55, intervened in the scuffle but was hit inadvertently, causing her to fall and hit her head on the concrete. "She’s my life, she's my love, she’s always with me what am I going to do now,” Rangel Hernandez said in desperation, according to an NBC Los Angeles interview.
The family's plight was compounded when they learned that Vargas, after being discharged, had to be readmitted to the hospital. Her condition deteriorated, leading to the grim prognosis of brain death. Veronica Rangel, Vargas's stepdaughter, explained the severity of her stepmother's injuries to KTLA, stating, "He’s a free man. My father’s wife, our stepmother is dying or pretty much dead, and where’s the justice? There was no justice at all."
Public records reveal that the suspect has been charged only with a misdemeanor and has already been released from jail, prompting the family to publicly question the adequacy of the legal response. "The man bumped her with his body and dropped her and she hit her head bc of that she had heart attack," said Veronica Rangel to NBC Los Angeles. Despite the arrest, frustration is palpable as the suspect appears free to potentially commit further offenses.
The family and supporters are now pushing the District Attorney’s Office to reassess the case and take measures that could prevent similar incidents in the future. A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family during this trying time. Meanwhile, the DA’s Office had not provided an update on the investigation as of Tuesday morning.
