Los Angeles authorities Friday released the identities of the three people who were killed Thursday when a car rammed into a grocery store in Westwood.
Two of the deceased were employees of the 99 Ranch Market on Westwood Boulevard and Rochester Avenue, according to officials. The third victim was a customer, shopping at the bakery section of the supermarket when he was fatally struck by the car.
Authorities said the shopper was 28-year-old Zih Dao.
A family member told NBC Los Angeles her cousin was one of the grocery store employees. Originally from Mexico, Leonel Mateo, 52, left behind two children after he died in the crash, according to Rocio Alvarado.
“This is a surprise. This is a nice person,” she said about her cousin.
Another employee was identified as 42-year-old Deris Renoj, an immigrant from Guatemala.
“Three people lost their lives. And I feel empathy for that. That’s why I got out of work and brought a candle,” Leonard Lopez, a relative of Renoj, told NBCLA in Spanish.
While the grocery store was boarded up, people were stopping by to drop off signs, flowers and candles to pray and reflect on the tragedy.
“I heard what happened and came to pay my respects,” said Giacomo Diora Carter, a UCLA student. “It’s going to be hard to move forward. But grief is just the unexpressed love that people can’t give.”
Some people, including Lopez, said they are leaning on faith and the Westwood community amid grief.
“Pray. That’s it, that’s all we can do. Just pray,” Lopez said.
Police did not name the 92-year-old driver who crashed her silver car in the store. Investigators are looking into her medical and driving history, police said.