Police Searching for Clues, Motive in Youth’s Slaying

Homicide investigators here were probing the neighborhood around an apartment complex Wednesday for clues to the mysterious shooting death of a 16-year-old boy whose bloody body was found in a darkened alley.

The body of Leo A. Huicochea of Huntington Beach was found by police about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, La Habra Police Sgt. Bob Wyse said.

Since then, detectives have been combing the area for a weapon or other evidence and interviewing residents who may have seen or heard something, police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said. As of Wednesday afternoon, police had no witnesses or other leads and had not established a motive for the shooting.

“We don’t know at this time if it’s drug-related, gang-related or family-fight-related,” Wyse said. “He appeared to be the victim of a gunshot wound.”

Huicochea was found Tuesday night by officers who responded to a report by a resident in an apartment complex in the 300 block of North Bedford Street that shots were being fired.

The gunman had fled by the time officers arrived, leaving Huicochea’s body slumped on the ground in an alley behind the complex, Wyse said.

“Apparently, (Huicochea) was standing in the alley when shots were fired at him,” Wyse said.

It was not immediately known why Huicochea, who lived in Huntington Beach with his mother, was in La Habra. Knapp said he frequently visited La Habra, but he would not elaborate.