Seventeen-year-old Ariel Joseph Roberts was fatally shot on November 8, 2023, in the Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The shooting happened around 10:45 a.m. near East 113th Street and San Pedro Street. Roberts was found inside a white compact sedan with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. The county medical examiner ruled the manner of death homicide.

Preliminary information indicates Roberts was walking to his car when an unknown number of suspects in a vehicle approached and opened fire, then fled. The suspects were described as possibly two Hispanic or Black males last seen driving a light-colored sedan eastbound on 113th Street toward San Pedro Street. No arrests have been announced; the LAPD asks anyone with information to call 877-LAPD-247 (877-527-3247).

If anyone saw the shooting or the light-colored sedan in the area that morning, please share what was observed with investigators.