A 14-year-old boy and a man were shot to death outside elementary schools in Cudahy and Bell during a violent night that claimed a total of four lives in four separate shootings, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
Javier Pedraza Jr., 14, was killed Monday outside the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in the 5000 block of Live Oak Street in Cudahy, the Sheriff's Department said. He and another child were shot and found by officers, who responded after receiving reports of shots fired in the area. Paramedics were called to treat the teens, but Pedraza died at the scene.
The second victim was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to authorities. Pedraza is a resident of Cudahy and her identity was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
Video from KTLA-TV Channel 5 showed yellow police tape and a black canvas tent just outside the school shortly before the students arrived. The shooting took place around 12:19 a.m. and was reported to authorities shortly before 2 a.m., the Sheriff's Department said.
Ellen Ochoa students were diverted through a different entrance at the school Monday morning.
“The safety and well-being of our students” remains a top priority for school staff, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson said in a statement. “Please note that this is a non-school incident and our school community is safe.”
Authorities initially identified Pedraza as an adult.
Martha Escutia Elementary Center, an elementary school in Bell, closed Monday morning due to an off-campus homicide investigation, a Los Angeles Unified spokesperson said.
A man was shot and killed in the 6000 block of Bear Avenue, the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Sunday and the man died at the scene, according to homicide investigators assisting the Bell Police Department.
Students were redirected to nearby Corona Avenue Elementary School, where teachers and support staff met them for their school day. Mental health assistance was made available, LAUSD said.
“We take the safety of our students very seriously. “We remain in communication with local authorities for important updates regarding our campus,” the district said in a statement.
About two miles away, a man was shot and killed in the 6300 block of Santa Fe Avenue in the city of Huntington Park, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Department. A Huntington Park police officer on patrol saw a person lying in the street near the sidewalk. The officer went outside to check on the man and saw that he had been shot in the upper body, authorities said. The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m., shortly after the shooting occurred, homicide investigators said.
The man died at the scene, according to authorities, who did not reveal any further information about the victim or possible suspects.
Another man was shot and killed less than two miles away in the 1500 block of East Florence Avenue in Florence-Firestone around 12:08 a.m., according to homicide investigators. They did not release additional information about the victim or the incident. which was reported shortly before 2 a.m.
It is unclear if any of the incidents are related and all were under investigation as of Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents can contact the department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous reports can be made to Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers through their website or by calling (800) 222-TIPS or (800) 222-8477.
