Lawsuit claims Los Angeles officials failed to stop predator who allegedly raped and killed 13-year-old in city parks

A civil lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses Los Angeles city and county officials of breaching their duty of care by allowing Mario Garcia-Aquino, a 43-year-old undocumented migrant from El Salvador, to operate a boys’ soccer club in city parks. The plaintiffs allege Garcia-Aquino groomed children while coaching the Huracan Valley Boys’ Soccer Club, and that city-approved permits gave him access to dozens of youths. The suit centers on Oscar Omar Hernandez, a 13-year-old boy who prosecutors say was raped and killed by Garcia-Aquino in late March; Hernandez’s body was found April 2 in Oxnard. Hernandez had boarded a train to Lancaster to visit the coach on March 28, authorities said, and he was reported missing that day.

The plaintiffs say Garcia-Aquino had unfettered access to city parks through the permit process, and that officials either knew or should have known about his past, including a history of alleged sexual misconduct with minors dating back to 2022. The lawsuit contends that city and county authorities approved Garcia-Aquino’s application to run a city-sanctioned boys’ soccer program and thereby enabled him to engage with children on a daily or weekly basis under the guise of youth sports. The filing notes Hernandez was part of the city-approved program when the alleged abuse occurred.

In a broader political context, the case intersects with Los Angeles’ immigration policy framework. The city designated itself a sanctuary jurisdiction in 2024, restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities and prohibiting the use of city resources for immigration enforcement. Critics say such policies can complicate public safety efforts, while supporters argue they protect vulnerable migrants. The lawsuit frames the sanctuary policy as part of the environment in which officials allowed a migratory staff to operate, arguing that policy realities should not shield public bodies from accountability when children are harmed.

The timeline at the heart of the allegations stretches across several years. The suit cites a December 2022 claim that Garcia-Aquino abused a player at his home in Sylmar, though no charges were filed at that time. A separate report in 2024 involved another teenage boy who accused him of abuse, with prosecutors charging Garcia-Aquino about 10 months later. A 16-year-old male in Palmdale also alleged sexual assault by Garcia-Aquino earlier in 2024; the maximum sentence on that charge is six years in state prison. In Hernandez’s case, Garcia-Aquino has pleaded not guilty to the charges tied to Hernandez’s death, and the civil suit separately seeks damages for negligence and breach of duty by the city and county.

Daniel Hernandez Bautista, Oscar Omar Hernandez’s older brother, spoke at a press conference, saying, “I want justice for my little brother.” His mother, Gladys Bautista Vasquez, added, “I ask for justice. May the full weight of the law fall on this monster who did so much harm to an innocent child who was unable to defend himself.” The family contends the city and county should have done more to verify Garcia-Aquino’s background and to prevent his access to children in city parks.

The civil action seeks monetary damages on theories including negligence, breach of duty, and failure to supervise according to the laws governing public agencies. While the criminal case against Garcia-Aquino proceeds, the lawsuit underscores ongoing debates in California about immigration policy and public safety, and how municipal processes—such as permitting for youth programs—intersect with efforts to protect children in parks and other community spaces.

As the investigation continues, officials have not publicly commented on the civil filing. The case highlights the challenge of balancing safeguarding vulnerable populations with the policy goals that shape how cities administer services to immigrant communities in a major urban center.