Police Release Surveillance Photos of Men Involved in Shooting Death

Police Tuesday made public surveillance images of two suspected attackers in the Friday night shooting death of a 38-year-old cook and father of five who was gunned down at the Sherman Oaks restaurant where he worked.

Raul Lopez was fatally shot in the chest shortly after 11 p.m. at Hoagies & Wings, 14522 Ventura Blvd., as he tried to repel a group of about five young men who were causing a disturbance.

His wife, Guadalupe, and some of his children joined detectives assigned to the Van Nuys Station today at a news conference to plea for the public's help in solving the killing. The couple have a 16-year-old son, a 7-year-old son and three girls younger than 6.

"He's my only dad and I really care about him, but I can't do nothing anymore," daughter Melesio said.

After the shooting, the attackers, all black men in their 20s or 30s, fled in a dark-colored SUV, perhaps a Cadillac Escalade.

The LAPD released descriptions of the five attackers on Thursday:

• 6 feet, 180 pounds, athletic build, in his early 30s; 

• 6-feet-2, 300 pounds, long dreadlocks in pony tail, 30 to 35 years old; 

• 6-feet-4, 350 pounds, shaved head, gold teeth, late 30s; 

• 6-feet-5, 350 to 400 pounds, shoulder-length hair, mid-30s 

• 6-feet-4, 300 to 350 pounds, mid-30s. 

Anyone with more information about who killed Lopez was urged to call detectives at (818) 374-0040.