Boy Charged in Death of Rival Gang Member
A 15-year-old Pacoima boy was charged with murder Friday in the shooting death of a gang member who was driving onto a Ventura Freeway on-ramp, authorities said.
The suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged in the July 4 shooting of Juan Manrique, 18, of Arleta, Detective James Vojtecky said. Manrique was struck in the head by a bullet fired from a car that sped by as he turned onto the on-ramp at Woodman Avenue in Sherman Oaks.
Vojtecky said Manrique was a gang member and information from witnesses and other undisclosed evidence led investigators to charge the boy, who is a member of a rival gang.
Detectives located the suspect Thursday in the Sylmar Juvenile Hall where he had been since his arrest on a burglary warrant a day earlier, Vojtecky said. He is being held at the juvenile hall without bail.
Vojtecky said an additional suspect is still being sought in the slaying. It is not known if the boy in custody drove the car or fired the gun.
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