Angel Cortez has been dead two weeks, buried in a California cemetery while his family grieves in disbelief.
But his killer still remains free.Salt Lake police have not found the person or people responsible for the entertainer's death April 1 at Centro Civico Mexicano, though they're trying.
Chief Ruben Ortega announced this week a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects. Detectives have interviewed dozens of people and seized two get-away cars.
None of the work has produced a case-breaking lead.
"We need time, and a good witness to come forward," said Sgt. Sam Hemingway. "It's frustrating, because so many people must have seen something."
Only six witnesses of more than 200 people attending a dance at the center have stepped forward with information. Police have their statements, some bullet casings and a few names of possible suspects - hardly enough evidence to hang a murder charge on someone.
They've pieced this much together: Cortez was not the intended target of four 9mm bullets fired through the glass doors of the center.
"We think it was probably some rival gang members inside that led to the whole thing. Mr. Cortez was in the wrong time at the wrong place," Hemingway said.
The rapper had traveled with his band from Los Angeles to the center at 155 S. 600 West for a performance intended to promote peace among minority communities fractured by gang violence.
He saw a fracas at the doors about 11 p.m., left the stage to investigate and was shot in the back. Doctors pronounced him dead two hours later at University Hospital.
The shooting brought leaders of the Hispanic community and police department together in a press conference that promised justice for Cortez. They also assured a concerned public that the tragedy did not mean the center wasn't safe.
Last week after meeting with more than a dozen Hispanic leaders to ease public concerns about the safety of the center, Ortega promised that at least one officer will patrol the recreation hall daily and others will be assigned to cover weekend events.