Sun Valley Man Fatally Shot in Argument; Girlfriend Held

A Sun Valley man was fatally shot Wednesday morning after an argument with his 18-year-old girlfriend over damage to her car, Los Angeles police said.

The victim, Sergio Ruiz, 22, was pronounced dead in his home in the 7300 block of Craner Avenue.

His girlfriend, Anna Gilinets of Sunland, was arrested on suspicion of murder, officers said.

Gilinets told police that Ruiz had deliberately run into her car the day before and refused to pay for the damage, Detective David Alfred said.

Shortly before 8 a.m., a family that shares its home with Ruiz was awakened by the sound of gunfire and found Ruiz shot in the small shed where he slept behind their house, Alfred and a family member said.

The family member, who declined to give his name, said his brothers saw Gilinets run out of the shed.

Inside, he said, they found Ruiz lying in bed as if he had been asleep when shot in the head.

A revolver belonging to Ruiz, who worked as a security guard, was in his left hand, as if he had killed himself. But Ruiz was right-handed, the family member said.

Ruiz, a godson, was from the family’s hometown in Mexico and had lived with the family for many years, he said.

Gilinets was in custody at the North Hollywood police station and was expected to be transferred to the Women’s Jail in Van Nuys, where she would be held without bail, Alfred said.