Police Seeking Motive in Fatal Shooting of Youth, 18

WESTMINSTER —  Police have not determined a motive in the fatal shooting early Sunday of an 18-year-old who was gunned down outside an apartment building on 15th Street.

Police said they do not know if the killing was gang-related.

The victim, Enrique (Ricky) Hurtado, who lived in the neighborhood, was pronounced dead at Humana Hospital-Westminster shortly after the shooting, which took place at 1:27 a.m. in the 8400 block of 15th Street, said Sgt. Rick McKinney.

The shooting “was in front of the apartment complex, and the suspect fled,” McKinney said. “Very little is known about the incident, and the investigation is still continuing.”

McKinney said officers are certain the incident was not a drive-by shooting. But no other details were immediately available, he said.

Neighborhood residents said that Hurtado was shot after being chased on foot by a gunman.

Residents, however, said they did not know why Hurtado was being chased.

One man in the neighborhood said he and other neighbors heard a succession of nine or 10 shots fired.

Police released no information on the number of gunshots.

A 19-year-old neighborhood friend of Hurtado said: “It wasn’t gang-related. The guy who shot him probably was drunk.”

The friend said that Hurtado had attended Ocean View High School before dropping out. Hurtado “was just kicking back, hanging out,” the friend said. “A lot of people liked him. He had a lot of friends.”