Teenager’s Friend Sought in His Slaying

Police investigating the death of a 15-year-old boy in Van Nuys encouraged the victim’s best friend and alleged killer to turn himself in Friday.

Denrel Martell Hudggins of South Los Angeles was accidentally shot by a childhood friend, also 15 years old, while playing with a gun, a friend of the suspect said.

On Thursday afternoon, a neighbor who heard a shot called police, and officers found Denrel lying on the living room floor, dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Tshima Steward, 24, whose mother lives at the apartment and had recently taken the shooting suspect into her home, said she called him Dougie or “Hawk,” but she did not know his surname. Steward’s mother, Gloria Vasquez, had met Dougie through a friend and taken him in about a month ago, said Steward, who lives across the street.

“We saw him around here every day, and he just kind of grew on you,” said Steward, who added that neither she nor Vasquez had ever met any of Dougie’s family members. “He’s not a bad kid. You could tell he was somebody that wants to do right, but he didn’t have anybody to lead him to righteousness.”

Det. Jim Rahm said investigators have gathered some preliminary evidence from the scene, but declined to say whether it included the gun that killed Denrel. He urged Denrel’s friend to come out of hiding and tell his side of the story. Rahm said Denrel had been shot with a pistol.

“None of the evidence can make total sense to us without hearing from this kid,” said Rahm, who would not release the boy’s name because he is a juvenile.

Dougie had invited Denrel over to play video games, according to Steward, who said her information came from her mother, who had spoken to detectives. The boys were home alone while Vasquez was at her job, she said.

“They didn’t have no business playing with a gun, but it was an accident. I don’t know where he got that gun from,” said Steward, who said no one in her family owns a firearm.

Steward said she has not talked to Dougie, but got word from a mutual friend that he planned to come out of hiding soon.