Los Angeles County officials are once again putting up cash in hopes of cracking the killing of 17-year-old Chyler Paton, who was gunned down outside a Torrance pool party last summer. The Board of Supervisors has voted to re-extend a $20,000 reward as detectives search for the shooter who opened fire on June 18, 2025, while Paton was leaving a rented backyard gathering. Nearly nine months later, the case is still unsolved, and county leaders say the renewed reward is meant to shake loose stalled leads and coax reluctant witnesses out of the shadows.
Board signs off on another extension
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the latest reward extension on Tuesday after learning investigators still lack crucial information about who pulled the trigger, according to MyNewsLA. The motion came from Supervisor Janice Hahn, who has repeatedly pushed for public help since the night Paton was killed.
Supervisor presses anyone with information
Hahn again turned up the volume on her plea for witnesses after the vote.
"I'm asking anyone who knows something about Chyler's killers to please speak up," she said in a statement referenced during the board meeting, urging people with any piece of information to contact law enforcement. Supervisor Janice Hahn's office noted the family's ongoing grief and stressed that community cooperation remains critical to solving the case.
What police say happened outside the pool party
Torrance police report that Paton had been attending a year-end party at a home in the 23000 block of Huber Avenue when a white SUV turned the corner near the property and someone inside began shooting into the crowd. Witnesses told CBS News Los Angeles that gunfire was returned from inside the gathering.
The homeowner said he had expected roughly 20 guests, but hundreds ultimately showed up after the private pool was listed for rental. Security video captured people scrambling and running from the property as shots rang out.
Arrest fizzles with no charges filed
Earlier in the investigation, detectives identified a person of interest and made an arrest, but prosecutors did not file a formal case, according to a motion cited by Patch. With no charges brought, the killing remains officially unsolved, and that dead end has fueled repeated calls for anyone with firsthand knowledge to come forward.
How to get tips to detectives
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact Torrance police at (310) 618-5570 and reference case number 250021528, according to the county notice linked to the reward extension. MyNewsLA and other local reports list the same number and case details for tipsters who want to speak directly with detectives.
Who Paton was, and how the community has responded
Paton, 17, had recently graduated from Culver City High School and was set to start classes this year at California State University, Dominguez Hills, according to his family and community members. In the months since the shooting, coaches, classmates and neighbors have held vigils and shared condolences, while local outlets have closely followed the investigation as authorities look for corroborating eyewitness accounts. Patch has continued to chronicle the family's public statements and the community reaction.
Pool rental platform draws scrutiny
The homeowner told reporters the event swelled far beyond his expectations after he listed the backyard pool for rent, and a representative for the company involved said in initial coverage that it was cooperating with investigators. CBS News Los Angeles published the platform's statement that it enforces a zero-tolerance policy for violence and is assisting authorities. The shooting has renewed talk in some neighborhoods about how private rental platforms should handle large gatherings.
How coverage of the reward started
first reported the $20,000 reward when it was initially offered last August and has since followed developments in the investigation and community response. The latest county extension is the newest push to turn public tips into solid leads and, ultimately, an arrest in Paton's killing.
