Missing teen sought after accidentally killing friend
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies searched Wednesday for a Southern California teenager they believe accidentally shot a friend to death and then disappeared.
James Kempski, 17, of Bellflower is despondent about Monday’s shooting and still has a gun, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
Kempski and 17-year-old Carlos Vela of Lawndale were at his home playing with a handgun when it fired, Lt. Dan Rosenberg said.
Kempski’s father called law enforcement personnel from Arizona, where he was traveling on business, to report that his son was distraught because he had accidentally shot his friend, who was pronounced dead Monday evening.
Det. Phil Martinez said the boy told his father that he was afraid that no one would believe him and that he wanted to kill himself.
Vela’s mother, Aida Portillo, appeared on local television news broadcasts to beg Kempski to turn himself in.
Investigators believe that there were other people at the home when Vela was shot and that Kempski is with friends, Martinez said.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
