Joanthony Rodriguez, 16

Joanthony Rodriguez, a 16-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, Jan. 8, in the 3800 block of Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County authorities. 

Deputies went to an apartment building near Indiana Street and Whittier Boulevard about 2:20 a.m. to answer a report about gunshots, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch. 

Deputies followed a bloody trail on the sidewalk into a nearby apartment building, Jauch said. There, they found Rodriguez lying in a stairwell, with gunshot wounds to the upper body. 

Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene, according to coroner’s records. 

Jauch said Rodriguez lived in another part of Los Angeles, and investigators don’t know why he was in the area. They have very little information about him, he said, and no information about a motive for the shooting or suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.