A 20-year-old man, Andres Chavez, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Saith Israel Toledo Mendez at a gas station in Pico Rivera last Saturday, as reported by KTLA. Chavez was taken into custody on Whittier Boulevard, close to where the crime took place. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated that he is currently being held on $2 million bail.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department described the shooting as "unprovoked," with Mendez walking back to his mother’s vehicle at the time of the attack. Authorities say Chavez emerged from the back seat of a nearby parked vehicle and opened fire on the teenager, eventually standing over his body to fire additional shots before fleeing the scene, as per KTLA.
Sheriff Robert Luna, during a press conference, emphasized the need for public assistance in locating Chavez before his arrest, as detailed in a news release obtained by ABC7. Luna also spoke about the impact of the crime on the family, stating, "We are here for two reasons." Luna added, "First to seek justice for Saith and his family. Second, to get this violent individual who committed this very cowardly act off of our streets."
The case against Chavez is scheduled to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on September 2, at the Downey Courthouse, according to NBC Los Angeles.
