Anaheim Teen-Ager Found Slain in Abandoned Stolen Car

A 16-year-old Anaheim boy was found shot to death in a stolen car abandoned behind a business complex, police said Thursday.

Oswaldo Castaneda apparently was slain shortly before an officer on routine patrol found his body about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on Orangethorpe Avenue, Detective Corinne Loomis said.

Two other people who had been passengers in the Honda with Castaneda called police later and said they had been fired upon with a shotgun after an exchange of words with three people in another car, Loomis said. The two said they had met Castaneda and the driver at a party that night.

The Honda, which had been stolen from Fullerton that evening, was going north on Melrose Street when the other car pulled alongside at Orangethorpe Avenue, Loomis said.

“There was some sort of altercation,” she said. Someone in the other car fired once.

A neighbor said Thursday, “I’ve heard a lot of shots out here, but this one was real close--real loud.” She did not call police.

The driver of the stolen car was being sought by police Thursday. The two surviving passengers were questioned and released, Loomis said.

The incident was being probed by gang investigators, but Loomis said it was not known if the shooting was gang-related.

Police knew little about Castaneda, but Loomis said he had a juvenile criminal record.

The owner of the Honda was unaware that the car was missing until police contacted him, Loomis said.