Aaron Carlos Martinez, 18

Aaron Carlos Martinez, an 18-year-old Latino, died of gunshot wounds Wednesday, Nov. 25, after he was shot in the riverbed near the 12000 block of 214th Street in Hawaiian Gardens, according to Los Angeles County coroner records. 

Witnesses told investigators that they saw Martinez and a black male running into the riverbed around noon that day, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Mendoza. A short time later, the witnesses heard gunfire and called the sheriff's office. 

Deputies found Martinez lying in the riverbed. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:10 p.m. with a gunshot wound, according to coroner's records.

Martinez lived with his family about three blocks from the riverbed area where he was shot, but investigators found no evidence of a problem at his home, Mendoza said. 

Investigators believe Martinez had ties to a gang in Hawaiian Gardens, but they don't know if the shooting was gang related, Mendoza said. They also don't know if the man he was seen with was a friend or a foe.

"The African American male is a person of interest we would like to talk to," Mendoza said, "but we haven't identified any suspects as of yet."

Investigators searched the riverbed area looking for evidence of another victim, but found nothing, Mendoza said. "The two of them ran in there together," he said, "so it's kind of mysterious."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 555-8900. Those wishing to be anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.