Youth Arrested in Boy’s Slaying

A teen-age gang member was arrested today as a suspect in the slaying of a 9-year-old boy who was caught in the cross fire of a gun battle, police said.

The 17-year-old youth was arrested at 10 a.m. at his home, not far from Mount Carmel Park at 70th and Hoover streets in South Los Angeles where the shooting occurred Wednesday, Detective Verne King said. The youth is suspected of walking up to a chain-link fence surrounding the park and opening fire on several members of another gang who had gathered in the playground area. One of the bullets struck DeAndre Brown, 9, in the neck as he played with friends. The youngster died at Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood about 4 p.m., officials said.