13-Year-Old Boy Slain While Painting Graffiti
A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed and a friend was wounded as they painted graffiti on a wall in Long Beach, and police said Tuesday that the drive-by attack appeared to be gang-related.
The victim was identified as Efrian Ruiz of Long Beach, said coroner’s spokesman Bob Dambacher. Mario Navarro, 14, also of Long Beach, was wounded in the arm, said Long Beach Police Lt. Steve McAndrew. The boys and five friends were standing on the corner of Salt Lake Street and Orange Avenue just after 9 p.m. Monday night when a car occupied by two men drove past, according to Detective Logan Wren. As the car made a second pass, the passenger, armed with a handgun, fired into the group several times, Wren said.
Family and friends of the slain youth told police that he was not a gang member. It was not known if Navarro is a gang member, McAndrew said.
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