MISSION HILLS : Police Near Arrest in Boy’s Shooting

Los Angeles police said Monday that they expected to make an arrest in the shooting of a 13-year-old Arleta boy who remained in critical condition.

“We have someone in mind and are hopefully closing in on an arrest,” said Inspector Marshall White, who declined to name the suspect. “He has been spotted and we have detectives cordoning off an area.”

The victim, Jason Lozano, was walking with a friend in an alley behind an apartment complex in the 10000 block of Sepulveda Boulevard in Mission Hills on Sunday evening when a car pulled up and one youth got out. “Words were exchanged, but we’re not really sure, yet, what was said,” White said.

The youth then fired several shots, hitting Lozano in the head and his friend, Max Tapia, 16, in the arm. Lozano was taken to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. “He is improving a bit and was taken off the life support,” White said.

Tapia’s wounds were minor. He was treated at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills and released.

White said there is no evidence that the argument was gang-related. He added that a motive for the shooting has not been established.