2 Calif. men charged with killing 6-year-old boy who was shot while playing in driveway
By APTuesday, January 12, 2010
2 Calif. men charged with killing 6-year-old boy
POMONA, Calif. — Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged two men with killing a 6-year-old boy who was shot as he played in the driveway of his home.
Investigators believe one of the men — 20-year-old Mathew Loza of West Covina — targeted the boy with a scoped rifle and shot him from across the street.
Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen says investigators are still trying to determine whether Loza knew the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger.
Prosecutors filed murder charges Tuesday against Loza and 21-year-old Richard Gomez of Azusa. Loza was at Gomez’s home Friday when Jessie Valencia was shot as he played with a remote-controlled car.
If convicted, the two men face life in prison with chance of parole. Both remain jailed on $1 million bail each.
