A violent night in Los Angeles County resulted in four fatalities from separate shootings, according to the county’s Sheriff’s Department. Among the victims were a 14-year-old boy and a man, both shot and killed outside elementary schools in Cudahy and Bell.
The young victim, identified as Javier Pedraza Jr., was shot outside the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center on Live Oak Street in Cudahy. Deputies discovered Pedraza and another boy at the scene after receiving reports of gunfire. Despite immediate medical attention, Pedraza succumbed to his injuries on the spot. The second victim, however, was transported to a hospital and is reportedly in stable condition. Pedraza, a resident of Cudahy, was initially misidentified as an adult by law enforcement.
The shooting occurred around 12:19 a.m., with authorities being alerted shortly before 2 a.m. As a result, students arriving at the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center were redirected to a different entrance. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District emphasized that the safety of students remains their top priority and assured that the school community was safe as the incident was not school-related.
In a separate incident, the Martha Escutia Primary Center, an elementary school in Bell, was closed due to a homicide investigation. A man was shot dead around 11:30 p.m. Sunday in the vicinity of the school. Students were redirected to the nearby Corona Avenue Elementary School, where they were met by teachers and support staff. The school district also provided mental health assistance.
In the city of Huntington Park, a man was found shot to death by a patrolling police officer. The victim, found lying near a street curb, had been shot in the upper part of his body. The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m., shortly after the shooting took place.
Another man was shot to death in the Florence-Firestone area around 12:08 a.m. No additional information about the victim or the incident was released by the authorities.
As of Monday, all incidents were under investigation, and it remains unclear if they are related. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has not released any information about potential suspects.