LOS ANGELES, CA – A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot Wednesday evening in front of a pizzeria in Lakewood, authorities said.
Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 5:50 p.m. in the 20000 block of Pioneer Boulevard, near Del Amo Boulevard.
Upon arrival, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head outside Goody’s Pizza & Chicken. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Family members identified the victim as a 17-year-old high school student, though authorities have not yet released his name.
“This was a young boy with his whole life ahead of him,” a relative said at the scene. “We’re heartbroken and want answers.”
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigators have not released any details about potential suspects.
Deputies are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and interviewing witnesses as they work to piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
The shooting has left the Lakewood community reeling. Local residents expressed concern about escalating violence and called for increased efforts to ensure public safety.
The investigation remains active, and further details are expected as law enforcement continues its efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
