Murder suspect charged in shooting of 13-year-old boy at Pico Rivera gas station
PICO RIVERA, Calif. (KABC) -- An accused gunman has been charged with murder in the shooting of a 13-year-old boy who was waiting for his mother at the Pico Rivera gas station where she was working.
The victim was identified as Saith Israel Toledo Mendez.
Andres Chavez was also charged with multiple special allegations, including personal and intentional use of a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm in public under specific circumstance, according to online court records.
Chavez was taken into custody on Thursday when he was stopped in the 9500 block of Whittier Boulevard in Pico Rivera, sheriff's officials said in a news release. He is being held on $2,000,000 bail.
Authorities allege he was in a rear passenger seat of a tan four-door sedan that drove up to the gas station pump and parked before the shooting.
The incident was reported shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 in the 8800 block of Whittier Boulevard, between Paramount and Rosemead boulevards. The wounded teen was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
The driver of the car exited and began talking to Mendez's mother, Clara, at the service window, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference last week.
The teen had been waiting in his mother's car for her to finish her shift, but went inside the station to speak with her. He then walked out and past Chavez, who had exited the sedan and was lingering about the station, Luna said.
"Unprovoked, suspect Chavez drew a firearm, took several steps toward Saith, and shot him at close range," Luna said. Clara watched, he said, as the gunman shot her child "in the back without prior interaction."
After the boy collapsed, the suspect allegedly stood over him and fired multiple rounds into him before fleeing on foot into a nearby residential area, Luna said. The driver of the tan car and a female passenger remained at the scene and were questioned and released pending further investigation.
Luna apologized for detailing the crime at the news conference with the boy's mother and other family members present, but said he had discussed the matter with Clara, who did not speak to reporters.
"We are here for two reasons," Luna said. "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 sheriff called Saith a youngster with "a bright, promising future" whose life was taken too soon. He was one of five children and enjoyed video games and playing basketball with friends.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help the teen's family pay for his funeral expenses.
City News Service contributed to this report.
