Local News in Brief : 2 Chicago Teens Captured in Valencia

Two teen-agers from Chicago, where the father of one boy was shot to death, were captured Tuesday by sheriff’s deputies in Valencia, officials said.

Roger Tracy Braun, 15, and Mark Whigam, 16, were taken into custody after they drove Braun’s father’s car up to an apartment complex in the 23600 block of Magic Mountain Parkway, a half block from the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station, Lt. Jeff Springs said.

Last Friday, a maid found Braun’s father, Frederick, an attorney, dead of a gunshot wound in the bedroom of his posh home in suburban Barrington Hills, Springs said. The elder Braun’s wallet and 1986 Chrysler were missing.

Authorities in Lake County, Ill., relayed information to Los Angeles County authorities that the boys might try to visit a Valencia girl the younger Braun had met while visiting his mother in Arizona.

Deputies began a stakeout at the apartment the girl shares with her father. Four patrol cars and a sheriff’s helicopter were waiting when the boys pulled into the parking lot at 4:30 p.m., Springs said. The two surrendered without incident.

Chicago authorities said the younger Braun has a history of emotional problems and had attempted suicide and threatened his father recently.

Deputies contacted the 16-year-old girl Tuesday and she told them that the boys had visited Monday night and might return Tuesday, officers said.

Both boys were taken to Sylmar Juvenile Hall.