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Desert Hot Springs ice cream man remembered as “happy person”

Published August 8, 2017 11:10 AM

The family of an ice cream man found murdered inside his Desert Hot Springs home speak out.

60-year-old Jose Luis Velasco was found beaten to death inside his home in Desert Hot Springs Thursday evening. Authorities are still investigating the incident.

Read: Homicide Unit investigates after man found dead with signs of trauma south of DHS

The next evening, there was a stand off at the home after a cleaning crew reported that someone was found inside the home that was supposed to be empty. Police responded and after several hours — no one was found in the house.

Read: Police search home, but find no one inside

Velasco was a very popular ice cream man in his neighborhood.

“He was very polite, he is very nice, he always has beautiful smile, all the time everyday. He was a very happy person,” said Teresa Ortega, Velasco’s niece.

Family members are still in shock over the brutality of the murder.

“We’re heartbroken. I can’t find any words. I cried I immediately cried it was a very hard night and all these days have been really hard,” Ortega said.

Velasco’s family is holding a food sale this Saturday starting at noon at 16280 Via Corto West in Desert Hot Springs to raise money to pay for funeral expenses.

If you can’t make Saturday’s event, Velasco’s family set up a GoFundMe page, you can donate to that here.

Messages of condolence on the fundraising page included “So very sorry for your loss. He was a very sweet man, my daughter always waited for him to pass by for ice creams. ♥️” and “What a great person I talked to almost daily will be missed so sorry for your loss.”