PICO RIVERA, Calif. — Authorities are searching for the shooter responsible for the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy at a gas station over the weekend. The incident occurred at a 76 station on Whittier Boulevard late Saturday night, where the victim’s mother was working.
Deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle linked to the crime on Sunday, suspecting him of being an accessory to murder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. However, the gunman remains at large and is believed to have fled the scene shortly after the shooting.
The victim, identified as Saith Toledo Mendez, was shot multiple times without any apparent provocation while walking near the gas station, witnesses say. Surveillance footage captured the moment a car arrived, and both the driver and the suspect exited before the gunfire erupted around 11:45 p.m.
Detectives are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting, which has left the community shaken and searching for answers. Mendez often accompanied his mother to work, making the tragedy especially poignant for family and friends.
This incident follows another shooting just days prior, where a man was killed at a Shell station about two miles away. Investigators have determined that the two events are likely unrelated. “The appearances of the suspects do not match based on the video evidence,” Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Modica said.
In the earlier shooting on August 21, authorities believe a possible argument led to gunfire, but details about that confrontation remain unclear. The victim in that case was transported to a hospital but died from injuries sustained during the incident.
Officials are urging anyone with information about either shooting to come forward. Tips can be provided directly to detectives at the Sheriff’s Department or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
The community continues to grapple with the effects of youth violence, and local leaders are calling for increased measures to ensure safety in neighborhoods and at public venues. As the investigation unfolds, the search for justice for Saith Toledo Mendez remains a top priority.