Two juvenile boys arrested in death of 15-year-old girl whose body was found in Compton
Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl whose body was found in an industrial area of Compton on March 25.
Samantha Bustos was shot in her upper torso, and her body was found a day after her family, who are from an unincorporated part of Gardena, reported her missing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
On Saturday, detectives detained a 15-year-old boy who is said to have been present when Samantha was killed and thought to have been involved in the events that led up to the girl’s body being left in the bushes in an industrial park.
Detectives interviewed the boy, confirmed his involvement, and subsequently booked him on suspicion of homicide.
On Tuesday, detectives learned about another 15 year-old boy and went to his home, about 2 and a half miles from where Samantha’s body was found. When the boy saw the deputies, he ran and was found on a nearby rooftop. He surrendered and was detained without further incident.
During questioning, the boy implicated himself in the shooting death of Samantha and was booked on suspicion of homicide.
Authorities have not yet determined the boys’ motive, or whether the shooting was intentional. Bustos and the boys were acquaintances from the same neighborhood and were together in a group when the shooting took place. At this time, there’s no indication of gang motivations, a law enforcement source said.
Detectives will continue their investigation and present the case to the district attorney’s office for the filing of criminal charges.
alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com
Twitter: @r_valejandra
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