Edward Hurtado learned on Friday that his best friend had been killed.
He was 16-years-old and attended Bell High School. He had been watching firecrackers Thursday night. Neighbors had thought the pops that they had heard at 10:35 p.m. were fireworks.
"You could hear them and you could see them. You could see the sparks in the air. I did not hear any gunshots. I just saw the cops," said a neighbor.
The victim died in the driveway. Sheriff's detectives gathered evidence through the night and Friday, but no arrests have been made.
Neighbors say they've seen similar violence in the area. A 17-year-old was gunned down in a drive-by just across the street from where Edward Hurtado's friend was killed.
"He always had faith. He knew something like this could happen, so he wasn't really tripping," said Hurtado.
The family asked that the teen's name not be released. The death is a jolt to all parents on Prospect Avenue.
"I feel bad for them because I have a teenager daughter myself. I can imagine what they are going through. She is my only daughter and it's hard," said a neighbor.
Edward Hurtado had been given a rosary by the victim last year. "This is all I have and this is all he gave me."
He says that it had been a comfort to them both.
"Every time when we had hard times this would help him get through it," said Hurtado.
Investigators say the shooting may be gang related.
Anyone with information is asked to call the L.A. County Sheriff's Department at (323) 890-5500.
