Latino Trump voter, 82, who woke up to find his van in flames outside his California home claims he was targeted over campaign posters in his front yard in support of the current president

Leo Cortez woke on October 9 to find his vehicle on fire

An 82-year-old Latino in California claims his van was torched in the run up to the election because he voted for Donald Trump.

Leo Cortez, who believes he was targeted because of his multiple Trump 2020 signs in his front yard, was sleeping at his South Pasadena home  on October 9, when he was woken by neighbors to alert him his van had been set on fire.

Fire crews and police responded and the flames were quickly extinguished but left significant damage to the van.

'The truck was unusable. On the outside the damage is not seen so much, but on the inside it was destroyed,' said Cortez. 

No one was hurt in the incident. The suspect has not yet been arrested.

When Cortez, who was born and raised in LA, reviewed his home security footage, he said he saw a young white man slashing his tires and setting the blaze. 

'The video cameras managed to detect a white man who must be over 20 years of age,' Cortez said. 'He ran out after burning my car and puncturing the tires. Firefighters and police came, but they were unable to arrest the arsonist.' 

Cortez told La Opinión that he blames the increased antagonism between Democrats and Republicans in the run up to the election.

His GoFundMe states that he was targeted 'because he had Trump campaign signs posted in his front yard supporting his candidate for President.' 

'The hatred against Trump makes many of his followers not want to put signs of support in their gardens,' he told La Opinion, 'rather they put up posters of Black Lives Matter because that way they feel protected.'

He has since removed his many Trump campaign posters amid fears he could be attacked again. 

The insurance policy does not cover the damages incurred as a result of the arson attack

Leo Cortez said his van was torched due to his public support of President Donald Trump

Leo Cortez (front right) identified himself as a Democrat but said he had not voted for a presidential candidate from the party since casting a ballot for John F. Kennedy in the 1962 elections

'After the fire, I decided to remove them. It is not going to be that they burn my house '. 

There has been growing support from Latinos for Donald Trump, with 28% voting for him in 2016, compared to 32% in 2020. This is despite Trump's controversial comments towards Mexicans, Central and South American nations, and his hardline immigration policies. 

Cortez, who retired two years ago from his job as a counselor, said he voted for Trump but still described himself as a Democrat - despite not voting for any of the party's candidates since 1962, when John F. Kennedy was elected as the nation's 35th president. 

'I am a Democrat, but I vote for whoever I want, regardless of parties,' said Cortez, who has eight children, 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

According to a CNN exit poll, President-elect Joe Biden received 66% percent of the Latino vote, equaling Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections. Trump notched 32% of the Latino vote, an increase from 28% in 2016.

The insurance policy Cortez purchased for the 2002 model does not cover the extensive damages. He used the vehicle to deliver food and aid to underprivileged families at churches, housing projects and sought out the homeless throughout the streets of Los Angeles. 

A fundraiser set up on Go Fund Me had generated at least $5,000 for Leo Cortez, whose van was torched last month. The 82-year-old retiree is revered in the Los Angeles community for his social work

Leo Cortez's van was set on fire the night of October 9 outside his home in South Pasadena, California. Cortez, a Democrat, said that fact that he had signs outside his home supporting President Donald Trump, made him a target. The arsonist, whom he described as 'young white man' in his 20s was not arrested despite being caught on camera

The unfortunate event drove Roberto Valdez to create a Go Fund Me account for Cortez, who is revered in the Los Angeles community for his gang intervention activism and who once steered a 13-year-old Valdez from the streets. 

'I was a gang member and Leo was a role model for me because he always tried to bring peace to the neighborhoods,' Valdez said. 'He has always been very active in the community and a very humble man.'

Donations were slow to come by before Valdez posted a link to the fundraiser on several pro-Trump social media accounts.  

At least $5,000 has been donated as of Wednesday. 

'I call on the community to unite and put aside political parties to support a man who has helped save gang lives and for safer neighborhoods,' Valdez said.