Teen-Ager Shot to Death; Girlfriend’s Father Sought
People who knew 18-year-old Francisco Barajas Lopez said he thought the death threat was merely a joke by the father of a 16-year-old girl Lopez liked. But, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, the misunderstanding apparently cost him his life.
The Mexican immigrant was shot to death Wednesday afternoon outside a modest, three-bedroom South Gate residence, where he lived with a family of seven, paying some rent and sleeping on the sofa or the floor.
Authorities were seeking Mario Chaidez, 37, as a suspect. They said Chaidez drove to the home on San Antonio Avenue to talk to Lopez “about seeing his daughter” and allegedly fired three shots after they argued and the young man turned to walk away. One of the shots struck Lopez in the head.
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