SAN DIEGO – A 19-year-old man from California has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to the second-degree murder of a U.S. Navy sailor, who was also a father to four children. The sentence for Ricardo Vazquez-Gongora was handed down on Friday, following his involvement in a fatal carjacking that led to the death of 32-year-old Eddie Foster.
The incident, which captured statewide attention, occurred on the early morning of June 11, 2023. Foster, who was working a second job as an Amazon delivery driver, had briefly stopped to deliver a package when Vazquez-Gongora, along with a teenage girl, commandeered his idling Honda Accord. In a desperate bid to prevent the theft, Foster clambered onto the hood of his car.
Despite Foster’s efforts, Vazquez-Gongora accelerated, engaging in a perilous and high-speed drive that lasted several minutes. During this ordeal, Foster, clinging to the hood, managed to make a 911 call, where pathetically he pleaded for help. Eyewitness reports later corroborated this harrowing scenario, describing the car speeding toward the Coronado toll plaza with Foster visibly in distress on the hood. The chase ended tragically when the car crashed into a concrete toll booth, critically injuring Foster.
At the scene, authorities quickly apprehended Vazquez-Gongora and his juvenile accomplice a short distance from the wreckage. This swift arrest, however, did little to prevent the heartache that would follow, as Foster succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
At a subsequent bail hearing, the presiding Judge Carlos Varela noted that Vazquez-Gongora was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the incident. This impaired judgment contributed to the reckless and ultimately fatal decisions that night.
The sorrowful aftermath resonated deeply through Foster’s family and his community. His widow, Ashley Foster, in a heartfelt statement during the court session, encapsulated her devastation saying, “This man took our life away. So give him 15 years.” A dedicated serviceman, Foster served as an Aviation Technician at Naval Air Station North Island and was a much-loved figure both in his professional and personal spheres.
In a poignant reflection of Foster’s enduring commitment to help others, his mother, Diana Medlen, shared that even in death, Foster continued to serve by donating his organs. His heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys were given to save the lives of three individuals.
Medlen also highlighted her son’s dedication to his family, stating the vital role that the stolen car played in maintaining the family’s livelihood. “He needed to make sure they had food in their stomach,” she explained.
The severity of this crime and its consequences have stirred conversations about the risks public service workers like delivery drivers face, and the growing concerns over juvenile involvement in violent crimes. For the Foster family, the loss mirrors a broader narrative of service and sacrifice, his final acts cementing his legacy as both a hero in uniform and in civilian life.