Shooter was local tow-truck driver, friends say

Colleagues and friends of the man involved in the alleged murder-suicide in La Cañada identified him Monday as Aaron Welch, an auto mechanic, tow-truck driver and longtime La Crescenta resident.

The bodies of Welch and 39-year-old Genny Herrera, were discovered by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in the front room of an apartment in the 4500 block of Lasheart Drive shortly after 11a.m. Friday. A handgun was found on the floor near the bodies.

Homicide detective Steve Lankford said it appeared the man fatally shot Herrera, and then fatally shot himself. Deputies were on site within minutes of the shooting, Lankford said.

What relationship, if any, existed between Welch and Herrera is unclear. Herrera’s sister-in-law, Gabriela Herrera, who was at the apartment on Monday packing up personal items, said she knew nothing about the alleged shooter.

Jacci Present, who operates Crescenta Valley Tow in La Crescenta, said she employed Welch on and off for 10 years. Present said she received a phone call from the sheriff’s department early Friday afternoon notifying her of the incident and asking for personal contact information.

Present described Welch as a hard worker and an excellent mechanic. When it came to his personal life, however, Welch often told conflicting stories, Present said. He provided as many as three different birthdates on employee forms, Present said. He also claimed to have several children by several different women, but no one ever filed for child support, Present added.

“[This incident shows] what a mystery he really is,” Present said. “None of us have ever really known the truth. I wonder if he even knew the truth himself ... I don’t know if he really ever had that sense of reality.”

Despite this, Present said, she and other colleagues were shocked to hear that Welch was involved in the alleged murder-suicide. She would have never thought him capable of committing a violent crime against a woman, she said.

“I was surprised he was the actual shooter...Until they show me the fingerprints on that gun, I don’t know if I will believe it.”

John Garden, co-owner of Two Nice Guys Automotive in La Crescenta, said he had known Welch personally and professionally for many years. Welch loved being outdoors, Garden said, and the two met during an off-roading trip when Garden was still in junior high school.

“He always wanted to have a good time, a friendly person,” Garden said. “I think everyone who was around him liked him. I never thought what happened was going to happen. That is definitely not what we expected.”

Lankford said  the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station had previously responded to the Lasheart Drive apartment complex on domestic dispute calls.