Shooting victim in city of Paramount identified [Updated]

Authorities have identified the teenage boy who was shot to death late Friday night after he was approached by four people in the 8200 block of Somerset Boulevard in Paramount.

The boy's name was Jonathan Escobar, and he lived in Paramount, according to coroner’s Lt. Joe Bale.

[Updated at 1 p.m. Monday: An earlier version of this post stated that Escobar was 16. Coroner's officials gave his age as 14 in a list of homicides released Monday. A watch commander said his body is still at the hospital and that officials were unable to provide additional information at this time.]

Crime map: Track serious crime in Paramount

Escobar was shot several times shortly before midnight. His attackers fled by foot, authorities said.

Detectives asked anyone with information about the shooting to call (323) 890-5500 or (800) 222-8477.

[Updated 6:10 p.m.: Since January 2007, at least 33 people have been killed in homicides within two miles of Friday's attack, according to data collected for The Times interactive Homicide Report.]

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Map shows location of Friday's fatal attack and the locations of nearby homicides since January 2007. Source: Homicide Report

Comments

[Tom]

RIP Jonathan, my prayers are with you and your family. You lived a short, but fruitful life which was taken away from you too soon. John was not a gang member nor was a criminal, just a innocent victim walking home from a gig.

[Kimberly]

Cowards... Probably a bunch of little punks who are ignorant to the fact that not everyone is from some gang as well as other things... I sure hope they catch these idiots! My heart and prayers go out to the family of this young man...

[L.A]

RIP JONATHAN U WILL B MISSED MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE ESCOBAR FAMILY. HE WAS A GOOD BOY N DIDNT DESREVE TO B KILLED. MAY GOD GIVE UR FAMILY THE STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH THIS. RIP JONATHAN ESCOBAR!

[Jade]

I didn't know Jonathan directly but I heard from others that he was a good kid. :-(

I hope they catch those monsters before they hurt another innocent person. This makes me so mad.

[G C]

i just want to give my condolences to the family Escobar. I didn't know Jonathan enought but i could say that he was a nice and cheerful boy and he didn't deserve to be killed. i hope they get the people that where responsible for his murder and get peace to his family and friends.

[gh]

I go to Paramount High, according to other students he went to Paramount High. I've never seen him around school and still to this day don't know who he is. Hopefully, his family gets thorugh this tragedy. It's very sad to hear that these kinds of things happen in Paramount.

[syscom3]

Whats a 14 year old out doing on the streets at midnight?

reagrdless of who says "hes a good kid" ..... it seems like he was involved with or associated with gangs.

[Mike Henderson]

Anytime anyone dies they are always labeled as "good, loving etc" even if they were not "good, loving etc". A 14 year old out at midnight? He placed himself in the line of fire and was NOT a "good boy"...LOL. Two words perfectly describe why this occurred: BAD PARENTING!

[STEFFANy]

i was super heart broken when i heard that jonathan died:(.. i loved him dearly as a friend..he was my little neighbor that i saw grow in my own eyes..and he was NO gangster at all..he was a sweet caring boy..always helped out all the neighbors ..and his fam. was great!!
you were always surrounded by love..
u will always be remembered and loved..and remain in our hearts
.....RIP jonathan...
we love u and miss u
my heart goes out to ur mom, dad and brothers...

Ps..THOSE WHO DONT KNOW CRAP
ABOUT WHAT REALLY WENT DOWN..OR WHY HE WAS MURDERED DNT EVEN BOTHER TO COMMENT ..AND HE WASNT EVN OUT IN THE STREETS!!!!..GUESS U CANT EVEN READ!!..HE WAS OUT IN HIS GARAGE!!!..WHICH THOSE APARTMENTS PLUS GARAGE PLUS YARD WAS GATED WITH A FENCE WHICH THERE WAS NO TRANSPASSiNG ALLOWED AND HAD TO GO iN WiTH A PERSONAL KEY!