Youth Pleads Not Guilty in Killing of Boy

A 17-year-old gang member charged with killing a 10-year-old boy as the child played near a Pacoima park pleaded not guilty Tuesday in San Fernando Valley Juvenile Court.

The Pacoima youth showed no emotion while entering his plea before Commissioner Jack J. Gold.

The youth was arrested July 21--the day after Alejandro Salazar, who lived near the park, was hit by a bullet in the back of his head as he stood with a group of children, said Los Angeles Police Lt. Bernard Conine.

The shooting stemmed from a dispute between members of Latino and black gangs over a pair of red trousers worn by a 14-year-old Latino boy, Police Officer Jay St. John said.

Fires at Gang Members

Five black youths confronted three Latino boys and punched the one wearing red pants because red is a rival gang’s color, St. John said. Witnesses said that, as the black youths were leaving, the 17-year-old, who had not been involved in the fracas, fired two shots at their departing car.

One of the shots struck Alejandro, St. John said.

The boy was buried Monday after a funeral Mass at Guardian Angel Catholic Church attended by 250 people.

Gold ordered the youth held in Sylmar Juvenile Hall until an appearance Aug. 5 to set a trial date.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Cesar C. Sarmiento said the court will decide then whether the 17-year-old should be tried as an adult. If the youth is tried and convicted as a juvenile, he could be sentenced to the custody of the California Youth Authority, which could not hold him beyond his 25th birthday. If he is tried as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder, he could be sentenced to life in state prison, Sarmiento said.