Boy, 15, Arrested in Shooting Death of Youth at Party

A 15-year-old Santa Ana boy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of shooting to death another youth after an argument at a party, police said.

The suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was arrested without incident at his home and booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder, Santa Ana Police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said.

The victim, whom police declined to identify because they fear it might hamper their investigation, died Tuesday at UCI Medical Center in Orange shortly after being shot once in the chest at party on the 1700 block of West Willits Street, Thomas said.

Police arrested the suspect after interviewing a number of witnesses who were at the party, Thomas said.

Between 50 and 75 teen-agers started gathering at the house around 10 a.m. to celebrate an official school holiday at Saddleback High. There was evidence that “a lot of drinking” had occurred at the party, Thomas said.

The shooting apparently stemmed from an argument among several people that grew into a physical confrontation, Thomas said. It was unclear what started the argument, she said.

After the argument, the suspect left the party and then returned with a gun, police said.

Investigators have yet to determine whether the suspect knew the victim before the shooting or whether the suspect also attended Saddleback High.