Larry Padilla, 17

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Larry Padilla, 17, a Latino youth, was struck by a bullet in a parking lot at 37080 47th St. E. in Palmdale at about 3 a.m. Sunday, July 15. He was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead after 3 p.m. the following day, July 16.

Larry was a high school student, ‘a good kid,’ and random victim, according to sheriff’s homicide Det. Sandy Nava. He was in a large group of young people hanging out around the local Jack in the Box that night. Somewhere near him, rival groups of teenagers got into a fight and started shooting at each other. A stray bullet crossed the open space and hit Padilla, who was standing some distance away in a group of people separate from the fighters. Several other people were wounded, none seriously. Anyone with information is asked to call Nava at (323) 890-5500.