Detectives say dead youth in East L.A. may have accidentally shot himself

Detectives investigating the death of a teenage boy in East Los Angeles said Sunday that the teen may have accidentally shot himself.

Police found the boy lying in the 3500 block of Cesar Chavez Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday with a gunshot wound to his head.

The victim, a 14-year-old whose name was not immediately released, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead soon thereafter, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.

Authorities said that, based on witness statements, the boy may have accidentally shot himself while handling a loaded handgun. The teen was a documented member of a local street gang, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.

A spokeswoman for the L.A. County coroner said the victim is listed as a “John Doe” while detectives work to confirm his identity.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website https://lacrimestoppers.org.

Twitter: @gtherolf

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