The parents of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, whose life was tragically cut short, are bringing a lawsuit against the city and county of Los Angeles. They allege that these local government entities did not adequately protect their son from the man accused of his murder, soccer coach Mario Garcia Aquino, according to NBC Los Angeles. The claim centers on the idea that Oscar was a victim of grooming and insufficient background checks on Aquino, who has been charged not only with Oscar's murder but also with sexually assaulting another teen.
The lawsuit suggests a failure by the city and county in their duty to protect children like Oscar, who participated in programs at government-run facilities like El Cariso Community Park and Whitsett Fields Park. These parks are managed by the city and county, respectively, and it is here that Aquino's club operated. As per NBC Los Angeles, the parents contend that, although Garcia Aquino had no criminal record at the time, the city and the county should have been aware of past allegations of his child sexual misconduct from 2022.
As reported by FOX LA, Hernandez’s family said they were “devastated by the unimaginable loss” and “heartbroken that someone entrusted with his care could commit such a horrific act.” Garcia-Aquino faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the murder charge, along with an additional six years for the sexual assault charge.
