Fourteen-year-old Juan Ortega was fatally shot on March 26, 2023, in Palmdale, California. The shooting occurred about 5:20 p.m. in the 3000 block of East Avenue R-4 and was ruled a homicide. A second male was also struck, suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg; he returned to a home in the 3100 block of Heather Avenue and was taken to a hospital.

No arrests or suspect identifications have been reported. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating and asks anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or via lacrimestoppers.org.

Did anyone in the Palmdale area see or hear anything around East Avenue R-4 that evening?