GARDENA - The killer of a 17-year-old honor student gunned down in Gardena remains at large, and the teen's grief-stricken family stood alongside the city's police chief today as he appealed for help in solving the "senseless killing" of "a great kid."
(1/2) Police in Gardena ask for help from the community to find whoever shot & killed David Amaro-Poblano on Friday night. The 17yo honor roll student is said to have been larger than life with a contagious smile. He aspired to become a police officer. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/PJtxI9IJ19
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) February 25, 2019
David Amaro-Poblano of Gardena was shot in the upper body about 7 p.m. Friday in the 1400 block of 146th Street and died at a hospital.
"Any time we have someone taken from us in our community, it's very heartbreaking," Chief Thomas Kang said at an afternoon news conference outside Gardena police headquarters.
"Today, we're here to talk about a senseless killing -- a murder that we had in Gardena on Friday," Kang said. "David came walking out of his car to go (see) his mom, who was visiting a friend, and at that point, he was shot and killed. We need the community's help to help find the ... suspects that were involved in this senseless killing."
(2/2) This car was leaving the the area of 146th St. & Halldale Ave on Friday night where David Amaro-Poblano was shot & killed. Anyone with info should call Gardena PD at 310-217-9653 @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/ow5zwMbQpy
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) February 25, 2019Police circulated video of a light-colored sedan that may have been involved in the crime. Kang said investigators believe other vehicles were in the area at the time, and he urged any possible witnesses to contact police.
Kang said the teen had grown up in Gardena, was on the honor roll and played soccer at Environmental Charter High School. He wanted to become a police officer and was in the process of joining the police Explorers program, the chief said.
Why anyone would want to kill him is a mystery, investigators said.
"This is a great kid," Kang said. "He didn't go out and hang out with anyone. He just did the thing that most kids do, and just be with his girlfriend and his mom. He loved his family."
KC Fabiero, principal of Environmental Charter High, said the boy was known for making his classmates laugh and was part of the school's 121-member senior class. He had recently been accepted to Cal State Dominguez Hills, she said.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Detective Patrick Goodpaster at (310) 217-9653 or Detective Mike Nguyen at (310) 217- 9638.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the teen's family. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/6xdntqw.(CNS)
