A story for every victim

Derek Schaefer, 17

Derek Schaefer (2018-01-01)

Derek Schaefer, a 17-year-old white teenager, was shot and killed Monday, Jan. 1, in the 1500 block of West 205th Street in Harbor-Gateway, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:35 a.m., Schaefer and a 16-year-old friend had just left a nearby Wal-Mart and had accidentally set off a vehicle’s alarm when they started running east on West 205th Street, said Los Angeles Police Det. Dawna Killingsworth.

The two boys spotted a dark SUV that rolled by slowly, and a person got out of the passenger side and began shooting at the teens, Killingsworth said.

Schaefer was struck in the torso, and the 16-year-old was struck in the buttocks.

The vehicle continued west on West 205th Street, police said. A party was going on nearby, and attendees called police.

Schaefer was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. at the scene.

Neither Schaefer nor the 16-year-old had a criminal record or were associated with street gangs. Police are looking for additional witnesses.

“We don’t really have anything to go on right now,” Killingsworth said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (310) 726-7879. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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