Man identified in ‘unprovoked’ L.A. gas station murder of boy, 13, in front of mother

A 20-year-old man suspected in the violent murder of a 13-year-old boy in front of his mother at a Pico Rivera gas station over the weekend has been identified, authorities announced Thursday.  

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to calls about the Aug. 23 shooting at a 76 Gas Station in the 8800 block of Whittier Boulevard just before midnight.  

At the scene, deputies discovered Saith Mendez suffering multiple gunshot wounds. The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office said the boy died at the gas station.  

Few details were known about the incident until a press conference held this morning at the Hall of Justice where Sheriff Robert Luna described the shooting as a “tragic and senseless murder.”

With Saith’s mother, Clara Mendez, in attendance at the event, Luna laid out what homicide investigators have learned.  

The 13-year-old, who was often present at the gas station where his mother worked, had been sitting in his mother’s vehicle before going into the gas station, speaking with her and going back outside.  

Moments later, according to Luna, a tan four-door vehicle pulled into the station and parked next to one of the pumps. The male driver of the vehicle got out, went to the service window and was speaking to Clara when the suspect, identified as Andres Adan Chavez, exited from the rear passenger seat of the vehicle and lingered.  

“When Saith walked back toward the gas station, he walked past suspect Chavez. Saith did not engage with the suspect,” Luna explained. “From what we can tell, there was no confrontation between them before the shooting occurred.” 

The sheriff said that Chavez, completely unprovoked, drew a firearm, took several steps toward Saith and shot him at close range.  

“After Saith collapsed to the ground, suspect Chavez proceeded to stand over him and fire multiple rounds into Saith,” he said.  

The 20-year-old suspect then fled the area on foot, running into a nearby residential area.  

Both the driver of the vehicle and a female passenger remained at the scene, according to Luna. They were detained, questioned and later released pending further investigation.  

“We are here today for two reasons. First, to seek justice for Saith and his family and, second, to get this violent individual who committed this very cowardly act off of our streets,” Luna added. “The mother witnessed everything I just described, if you can imagine that.”  

The sheriff called on the community for help in locating Chavez, saying he believes someone knows where the 20-year-old is holed up.  

Two days prior to the murder, approximately two miles away at a Shell gas station near the corner of Washington and Passons boulevards in Pico Rivera, another fatal shooting unfolded, though detectives do not believe the two incidents are connected.  

In that instance, a 36-year-old man, described as a beloved coach and mentor, was shot dead.  

Saith, who enjoyed playing video games and basketball with friends in his Costa Mesa neighborhood, is survived by his mother, a younger sister and three adult siblings. A GoFundMe has been organized to help the heartbroken family with funeral expenses. 

Based on the 20-year-old’s behavior in drawing a weapon and firing it unprovoked, authorities said Chavez should be considered armed and dangerous. 

Anyone with information about the incident or Chavez’s whereabouts is urged to contact LASD’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.