7 Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Teen-Ager

Three adults and four juveniles were arrested Sunday in connection with the fatal shooting of a North Hollywood teen-ager, police said.

Ricardo Camacho, 18, was walking near Victory Boulevard and Vineland Avenue about 11:45 p.m. Saturday when as many as 10 people began chasing him in a van and a car, Los Angeles police Detective Mike Coffey said. Camacho ran to nearby Victory Vineland Park, where his attackers left their vehicles and began punching and kicking him, Coffey said.

One person shot Camacho several times with a handgun. He died instantly, Coffey said.

A witness recorded the license plate number of one of the vehicles and police stopped the car a short while later about four miles from the park. Marcello Sandoval, 19, of North Hollywood and four juveniles ranging in age from 14 to 16 were arrested.

Rene Munoz, 18, of Panorama City also was arrested after a van matching the description of the one used in the attack was traced to him. Steven Batres, 19, of North Hollywood, suspected of being another attacker, was arrested early Sunday by Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies at a Moorpark trailer park.

All were being held without bail in the North Hollywood Jail. Police were searching Sunday for more suspects.

Coffey said the attack appeared to be gang-related, but he did not know if Camacho was a gang member.