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Coy Thomas, 16 [Update]

Coy Thomas, a 16-year-old white male, died Saturday, Dec. 3, a day after he was shot near Redondo and Venice boulevards in Mid-City, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

[Note: Although the coroner's office listed Aviles as white, Los Angeles Police Department officials say he was Latino.]

Thomas was pushing a person in a wheelchair about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 2 when a car pulled up alongside the pair and someone inside began shooting, said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner's office.

The two victims were taken to a hospital, where Thomas died the next day, Winter said. The person in the wheelchair suffered injuries that were not life-threatenings.

Winter had no other information about the case.

The Times has contacted investigators to obtain additional details about the killing and will post an update as soon as possible.

[Updated, Dec. 12: Los Angeles Police Department West Bureau homicide Det. M. Morgan, who is handling the case, said no arrest has been made in connection with the shooting.

“It appears to have been a drive-by,” Morgan said. “All that we got was that a dark-colored vehicle fled from the scene.”

Citizens in the area heard shots and called 911 about 10:45 p.m., Morgan said. Thomas appeared to be on his way back from a nearby convenience store, pushing a friend in a wheelchair. Both were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Thomas died the next day. The person in the wheelchair, identified only as in his mid-30s, is in stable condition, Morgan said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact LAPD West Bureau homicide detectuves at (213) 382-9470. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.]

-- Rosanna Xia

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