Four teenagers were arrested Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy in an Escondido flood control channel, police said Saturday.
Three boys – a 17-year-old and two 15-year-olds – and one 15-year-old girl are in custody on suspicion of murder, said police Lt. Suzanne Baeder. They are all from Escondido.
The Dec. 11 killing is believed to be gang related, but the victim had no affiliation with gangs, according to police.
Escondido officers responded around 5:45 p.m. to numerous reports of gunshots heard in an area near the flood control channel on Hickory Street just south of East Washington Avenue.
Officers arrived minutes later and found the victim. The teen was taken to the hospital where he died; he was not identified, police said.
Witnesses told investigators they saw a group of people fighting before hearing gunshots.
Police said anyone with information about the death can contact Detective Michelle Mayfield at (760) 839-4926.