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Emelio Perez, 17

Emelio Perez, 17, a Latino youth, was shot by walk-up assailants at 600 E. 24th St. near the intersection of 25th Street and Trinity Street, the location of a public park, in LAPD's Newton Division. He was shot in the upper torso. Perez was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he died at 12:28 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6.

This was a stray-bullet homicide, said Det. Kelle Baitx. Perez had no gang ties; he had been in this country just 21 days. He had been playing basketball in the park, left, and was walking to the drinking fountain when the bullets, fired by gang combatants who were aiming for someone else, struck him instead.

Update: Newton detectives have cleared this case. A suspect is in custody.

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