15-Year-Old Dies in Los Angeles Gas Station Drive-By Shooting

LOS ANGELES – A 15-year-old male was fatally shot in a gang-related drive-by shooting at a gas station in Los Angeles late Saturday night. The incident, which occurred at a Chevron gas station in the 2500 block of South La Brea Avenue around 10:45 p.m., marks another tragic instance of youth violence in the city.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers from the Southwest Division responded to reports of a shooting victim. Upon arrival, they discovered the young male unresponsive inside a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial reports indicated that four other Hispanic males who were in the same vehicle were taken into custody, believed to be connected to a separate drive-by shooting. The victim's identity has not yet been released.

The Los Angeles area has a long and complex history with gang violence, with gang-related incidents historically accounting for a significant portion of homicides. Data from 2007 showed that nearly 75% of youth gang homicides in California occurred in Los Angeles County, and a substantial percentage of young victims aged 5-17 were killed in gang or drug-related activities.

Despite these persistent challenges, the City of Los Angeles reported a 14% reduction in homicides and a 19% drop in shooting victims in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to LAPD's end-of-year crime statistics released in March 2025. Programs such as the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) and Community Safety Partnerships (CSP) have contributed to these declines, with communities involved in these initiatives seeing a 40% reduction in homicides.

However, incidents like this recent shooting underscore the ongoing struggle. The impact of gun violence extends beyond direct victims, profoundly traumatizing Los Angeles' youngest residents and contributing to behavioral issues and academic difficulties. Community-police partnerships, including the "Reach team," are actively working to provide interventions and mental health services to families affected by gun violence, aiming to prevent long-term trauma and break cycles of violence. The investigation into the Saturday night shooting is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.