A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed in Boyle Heights Sunday afternoon, and authorities believe the incident was gang-related.
The shooting took place near Pecan Park and the 101 Freeway. According to a spokesperson from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), police responded at around 5:30 pm to a report of shots fired in the area of 1st and Pecan streets.
The teenage victim was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police only identified him as a Hispanic male, but a Los Angeles Coroner’s Office report identified him as 14-year-old Steve Velez.
LAPD investigators say two male suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. According to a Fox 11 News report, the nearby on-ramp to the 101 Freeway was shut down for hours during the initial stages of the police investigation.
In the Fox story, members of the victim’s family identified him as Matthew Velez and said that he was a student at Montebello High School. A man who said he was the boy’s uncle said that the teen had recently joined a gang.
Family members have started a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover funeral expenses. This was the first homicide reported in Boyle Heights in 2024.
This post was updated at 3:30 to correct the victim’s name and age and add details. It was updated again on Jan. 31 to add information on a GoFundMe for the victim.
