His family says Alejandro's death was unnecessary and they want justice. 

 

"She says she wants justice and she doesn't want this to happen again to anyone else. She doesn't want what happened to my brother to happen to anyone else," Alejandro's mother Valentina Rendon said.

 

Alejandro Rendon was gunned down by police on Valentine's Day. His sister, Margarita, says her brother dropped off gifts at her house, jumped on his bike, and headed for their mothers house. That's the last time she saw Alejandro alive.

 

"I lost my brother. My mom lost a son, and we miss him dearly. Alex I just want to tell you that we love you and miss you and you're always going to be in our heart," Alejandro's sister Margarita Rendon said.

 

According to police, an officer tried to stop Alejandro but he fled. An altercation of some sort took place. That's when the officer opened fire, killing Alejandro.

 

"Those are split second decisions, but those decisions have to be made keeping in mind the procedures of the agency and the laws. They have the right to use that service weapon in those intimate seconds where they have to make those decisions, where there's life, protection of life, protection of others and themselves," Ben Guitron, Spokesman for the Indio Police Department said.

 

Margarita says police beat up her brother in the past, and he was probably too scared to pull over, but didn't deserve to die. Now the family has a team of lawyers and private investigators working on the case.

 

The Rendon family is asking for support from the community. They'll be holding a car wash this weekend to raise money for Alejandro's funeral. The car wash is Saturday and Sunday in the parking lot of the KFC on Highway 111 in Indio.

 

--Adrianna Weingold

aweingold@kmir6.com