On November 8, 2023, 17-year-old Ariel Joseph Roberts was fatally shot in the Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. near the intersection of East 113th and San Pedro streets. Responding to reports of gunfire, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics arrived to find Roberts inside a white compact sedan, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite prompt medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner later identified the victim as Ariel Roberts, listing the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds and ruling the manner of death as homicide.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Roberts was walking to his car when an unknown number of suspects approached in a vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene. 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.
As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in connection with this case. The LAPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and urges anyone with information to contact them at 877-LAPD-247 (877-527-3247).
