Investigation continues in fatal shooting of 6-year-old boy

AZUSA -- Authorities Saturday identified a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot as he played with toys in the driveway of his home, as well as two men suspected in the killing.
Jesse Valencia was killed in the shooting, which occurred about 3:50 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of South Azusa Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Denise Bertone said.
Richard Gomez, 21, of Azusa, Mathew Loza, 20, of West Covina and Noemi Poblano, 19, of Los Angeles were booked on suspicion of murder within half an hour of the shooting, Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen said. Poblano was released Saturday due to insufficient evidence.
"We believe we have all the suspects involved in the shooting," the lieutenant said. "We've also recovered the weapon we believe was used in the shooting. It was a rife."
Valencia with his mother, playing with toys in the driveway of their home when a single shot rang out from inside the house across the street, Bertelsen said.
Police officers who heard the shot and went to investigate found the wounded boy in his mother's arms, officials said.
The mother initially reported she believed her son had been injured by an exploding toy.
Paramedics rushed the boy to a West Covina hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:26 p.m., Bertone said.
Police declined to say Saturday what roles each suspect is believed to have played in the shooting, or if the shooting was believed to be accidental or deliberate.
"I can't go into details or specifics related to the shooting," Bertelsen said.
Many details about the shooting are of "evidentiary value," he added. "We want to make sure we don't jeopardize the case."
In addition to investigating the killing, Bertelsen said police are trying to reach out and offer help to the devastated family of the boy.
"We're also arranging to contact the family to see if there's anything we can due to assist them in this time of tragedy," he said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Gomez, Loza and Poblano are due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
A bank account has been set up at the Covina Chase bank branch at 1453 N. Azusa Avenue, police said. Anyone interested in donating to the family can deposit money into account No. 000009230570848.

PHOTOS of Richard Gomez, above, and Mathew Loza, left, courtesy of the Azusa Police Department.