13-year old boy shot and killed in Santa Cruz

Joey Mendoza, age 13

A 13-year old boy was walking home from football practice when he was shot twice in the back and killed, in Santa Cruz, California.

The boy was a suspected gang member, though the article did not suggest whether the shooting was gang related.  The family suggested that he wasn't involved with gangs and was an A student.

From the article:

A 13-year-old suspected gang member was gunned down in Santa Cruz's Lower Ocean neighborhood Wednesday evening, Santa Cruz police reported.

Neighbors identified him as Joey Mendoza, who was walking home from football practice according to KSBW.

The fatal shooting happened at the corner of San Lorenzo Boulevard and Bixby Street near the Budget Inn Motel. It's second homicide of the year in the city.

Details about what led up to the killing still were emerging Wednesday night. 

The teen was shot twice in the back. Police said the gunfire came from either a sedan or a van, based on statements by witnesses. 

A Good Samaritan saw the shooting, pulled over and gave the boy CPR, said Zach Friend, Santa Cruz police spokesman. 

A Santa Cruz police officer and Watsonville police officer, riding together in a Watsonville police car as part of the county's Gang Task force, were on the Riverside Avenue bridge when the call came through, Friend said. The officers were on scene within one minute.

The Santa Cruz officer also attempted CPR on the teen, Friend said.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

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