Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives have arrested 19-year-old Eudiel Lopez in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Michael Soto which occurred in the 9100 block of Painter Avenue, Whittier, yesterday afternoon.
Lopez was booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station for murder.
Sheriff’s K-9 handlers and deputies on scene were able to track down Lopez in the 9000 block of Painter Avenue, Whittier. A handgun was also recovered and is believed to be the murder weapon, however ballistics testing must be done to confirm this belief.
The shooting appears to be gang related.
Suspect Lopez is currently homeless, but has ties to the Whittier area.
Homicide Bureau will not be releasing the booking photo of the suspect at this time.
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper will have additional updates in our print edition on Friday.
There is no other information at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
–Randy Economy
Randy@CerritosNews.net