Teen Admits to Slaying; Original Suspect Freed

A Yorba Linda man arrested in the weekend beating death of a man in Cerritos was freed Wednesday after a 17-year-old boy surrendered to authorities and admitted his role in the slaying, sheriff’s deputies said.

Joffrey De Leon Lagadia, 18, was released from the Lakewood sheriff’s station, where he was being held without bail, after the youth “admitted his involvement” in the crime, Deputy Pat Hunter said.

“All charges were dropped” against De Leon, who had been booked for taking part in the beating death of Miguel Sanchez, 19, early Sunday, Hunter said.

Five young men initially identified as gang members challenged Sanchez while he was in his car with his girlfriend, deputies said.

The 17-year-old went to the Lakewood sheriff’s station Wednesday afternoon with his parents and a lawyer, Hunter said.

“Based on the youth’s willingness to come forward and admit involvement in the crime, knowing that an innocent man was in custody, and the fact that the juvenile is not considered to be a threat to the community in general,” Hunter said, “(he) will remain in the custody of his parents pending the outcome of the investigation.”