A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed early Saturday in East Los Angeles near Sixth Street and Fraser Avenue, according to sheriff's deputies. Paramedics rushed the teen to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau has taken over the case and says detectives are still working to determine a motive.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to a LASD news release reported by CBS Los Angeles, deputies were called around 1:15 a.m. to a report of an "assault with a deadly weapon" near Sixth Street and Fraser Avenue. When they arrived, they found a male juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound.
Deputies said the victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators learned that the suspect got into a dark-colored SUV and drove away heading east on Sixth Street, according to the release. Officials told CBS Los Angeles that it is not yet known whether the shooting was gang-related.
Victim Identified by Family
Family members and friends identified the victim as 17-year-old Joshua Aila, NBC Los Angeles reported. His sister told the station that Aila was driving home after grabbing food with his younger brother when the shots were fired about a half-mile from the family home.
Friends described Aila as a talented boxing coach who mentored and trained neighborhood kids, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Memorial and Neighborhood Reaction
Neighbors and classmates quickly began leaving candles, flowers, and photos near the family's house, creating an impromptu memorial in the hours after the shooting, Telemundo 52 reported. Friends told local outlets the death has shaken the community, and several people at the memorial urged anyone with information to speak up.
How to Help
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, authorities and local reports say.
This killing follows other recent teen homicides in the region. CBS Los Angeles reported a separate case in Baldwin Park last month that also led to an LASD homicide investigation, underscoring ongoing concerns about gun violence affecting young people across Los Angeles County.
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