Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl whose body was found on the grounds of a business in Compton, authorities said Wednesday.
The body of Samantha Bustos, who lived in an unincorporated area near Gardena, was found about 1:25 a.m. March 25 in the 500 block of Victoria Street, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. An autopsy revealed Samantha had suffered a gunshot to her upper body, according to the sheriff's department.
Officials had said earlier that the girl "sustained traumatic injury" to her upper body and the coroner's office ruled the death a homicide, but the cause was withheld and there has still been no word on the motive for the killing.
On Saturday, detectives detained a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly present at the time Samantha was killed, sheriff's officials said, adding that the boy was "involved in the events following the death."
"Detectives interviewed the subject, confirmed his involvement in the incident and subsequently booked him for murder," according to a sheriff's department statement.
On Tuesday, detectives learned of an additional suspect, also a 15- year-old boy, and went to his home in the 1200 block of South Central Avenue to detain him. The teen fled the location but was located on a nearby rooftop and surrendered soon after, officials said.
"During questioning, the subject implicated himself in the shooting death of victim Bustos and was subsequently booked for murder," according to the sheriff's department.
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The victim's mother, Blanca Bautista, has said her daughter claimed she was going to a sleepover with her best friend, but went to a party instead. Before her body was found face-down in some bushes by a passerby, Samantha had last been seen March 22 in Compton, Blanca Bautista said.
Family members reported her missing two days later, according to the sheriff's department. Samantha was a sophomore at the Watts campus of New Designs Charter School, where counselors were made available following her death.
