Family devastated after 14-year-old boy shot in Southern California park

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy in a Lancaster park earlier this week, leaving his family devastated.

The shooting was reported just after 8:30 p.m. Monday at El Dorado Park in the 44500 block of 5th Street E.

The teen was identified as Benny Gutierrez. His mother, Rosalie Guitierrez, told KTLA’s Rick Chambers that she saw her son an hour before he was killed.

“He was funny, he was outgoing, he was loving, he loved his sisters,” she said.

Preliminary reports indicate that Benny, who was at the park with a friend and several other teenagers, may have been painting over gang graffiti on a park wall when several shots were suddenly fired from a car in the parking lot.

The 14-year-old was hit once and died at the scene of the accident.

His family found out about six hours later via social media.

“My heart sank because this is my baby,” Benny’s older sister Crysta Gutierrez told KTLA. “I just couldn’t believe it because the pain was so unbearable.”

Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, Benny towered over his sisters and was an aspiring soccer player, but also a teddy bear, according to his family.

“On the outside, people thought he was this tough guy, but on the inside he was just a little kid who was afraid of everything,” Crysta said.

Since the shooting, friends and family have gathered at the park every evening to honor Benny.

“I know Benny looks big for his age, but he’s just a baby,” said his cousin Cindy Estrada. “He’s just funny. He loves eating hot fries. He loves watching movies. He is really family oriented. He’s not a gangster or anything.”

The teen’s mother said she has a message for the people who took her son’s life.

“You took the life of a child. My world was him,” she said. “He was my baby and I was devoted to him. So if you hear this, you will be caught and we will ensure justice.”

The family told Chambers they believe they know who did this, although investigators are still gathering evidence and there have been no arrests in the case.

A GoFundMe has been organized to help the family put Benny to rest.