4 Accused of Murder in Death of Boy, 15

Four men were charged with first-degree murder Wednesday in the shooting death of a 15-year-old Francis Polytechnic High School student earlier this month.

Prosecutors allege that Juan Manuel Chavez, 21, of Pacoima shot freshman Santiago Polanco of Sun Valley on Dec. 13 as he walked with friends in the 8300 block of Sharp Avenue in Sun Valley, a few blocks from campus.

Angel Rodriguez, 19, of Sun Valley, Mauricio Martin Montes, 18, of Panorama City, and Christian Omar Hernandez, 18, of Van Nuys also were charged with murder for allegedly aiding Chavez.

In addition, prosecutors charged the four men with conspiracy to murder Polanco and lying in wait for their victim. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors contend that the four men drove to the area near the high school seeking revenge for an assault on Edgar Estrada two weeks earlier.

Although the motive appears to be gang-related, Los Angeles Police Det. Mike Coffey said the victim was not a gang member but may have been associated with some gang members.

Police arrested Rodriguez, Montes and Hernandez on Friday, after recovering a .38-caliber revolver believed to be the murder weapon at a gang member’s home, Coffey said.

They determined the crime to be gang-related after linking Polanco’s death to the earlier stabbing of Estrada near the same Sun Valley location, Coffey said.

Witnesses said they saw the green Jeep Cherokee used in the Polanco shooting pick up an injured Estrada at the earlier crime scene.

An arrest warrant was issued for Chavez, who was at large.