“He is in good spirits, in the sense that he is keeping the faith.” Family spokesperson Kimberly Noriega offered an update on her uncle Enrique Lozano, the paletero who was taken in front of Resurrection Church on June 23, 2025.
The local news of Lozano, Culver City’s beloved ice cream man, has echoed around the world, with cartoonist Lalo Alcarez drawing a picture of the abandoned ice cream cart, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico noting the incident in a speech.
In a post on social media, Noriega offered that Lozano is currently incarcerated in New Mexico, his third location. He was initially held in downtown Los Angeles, then transferred to a facility in Texas, before being moved to his current location.
“He does have phone access, so we talk with him every day… He does appreciate everyone who has reached out.”
Many in Culver City have noted that the first day of school won’t be the same without Lozano; his paleta fans will be missing him every afternoon.
There is a court date scheduled for August, but “This is just a date where there are telling him what he’s being charged with, there’s no bond, [no availability of release on bail.]” The legal advice the family has been given believes that there could be another hearing “in three to four months.”
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo credit Dulce Trinidad
