Arrest made in shooting that killed 13-year-old at Pico Rivera gas station, – NBC Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide investigators announced Thursday night the arrest of Andres Adan Chavez, 20, of Pico Rivera, in connection with the murder of 13-year-old Saith Toledo Mendez.

Chavez was taken into custody at approximately 5:50 p.m. in the 9500 block of Whittier Boulevard in Pico Rivera, investigators said.

Deputies arrested him on suspicion of murder and booked him at the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station without incident.

This morning, Sheriff Robert Luna held a press conference and sought the public’s help to track Chavez.

Given Chavez’s willingness to use a firearm and kill someone without being provoked in any way makes him a particularly dangerous threat and no one should confront him, but call 911 if he is spotted, Luna said.

The shooting was reported just before midnight Saturday in the gas station parking lot on Whittier Boulevard. The teen victim died at the scene in what authorities described as a random attack.

Authorities said Mendez was waiting in the family’s car for his mother to finish her work shift at the gas station.

Moments later, a tan sedan pulled up next to a fuel pump, Luna said. The driver got out of the car and started talking to Saith’s mother at the service window.

A man, later identified as Chavez, exited the car’s rear passenger seat.

“When Saith walked back… he walked past suspect Chavez,” Luna said. “From what we can tell, there was no confrontation before the shooting occurred. Unprovoked, suspect Chavez drew a firearm, took several steps toward Saith and shot him at close range.

Chavez is being held on $2 million bail. The case is scheduled to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the Downey Courthouse.

Officials say the investigation remains active.