Los Banos police work to track down teen's killer

LOS BANOS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Los Banos police are working to identify a suspect who opened fire at a neighborhood park, killing a teenager.

The deadly shooting happened at San Luis Street and Ward Road Sunday night. Raymond Sevilla, 17, died at the scene.

At the spot Sevilla collapsed and died Sunday night, friends and loved ones remembered him Monday.

"He's always been a good little kid, smiling all the time, hella happy, the type of person who would walk in a room and make you feel warm, you know? Just trying to figure out himself in life," said Destini Hernandez, a friend of the victim.

Witnesses said Sevilla made it as far away from the park as he could, basically across the street from where Los Banos police say the deadly confrontation began. Several neighbors called 911 around 7 p.m. Sunday after hearing gunfire then watching the victims running from the shooter.

A 15-year-old was also injured during the homicide. His aunt believes the gunman ran out of bullets by the time he got to him.

"I guess you could say we thought a bullet hit him too, but he got pistol-whipped in the back of his head," said Viola Landin, a friend of the victim.

All day, friends lit candles and reminisced about all the fun times together.

The Los Banos police chief isn't sure about a motive for the crime, but says it may be gang-related. A group of five others confronted Sevilla and two others.

Monday morning, detectives continued canvassing the neighborhood and looking at surveillance footage that may have captured some of the crime.

"We do know that there are video cameras or video systems in the neighborhood, and we are following up with those residences to see if we can take a look at those," said Chief Gary Brizzee.

The homicide is the first in Los Banos this year. Loved ones say Sevilla had to have been surprised by the violence, that those who were with him said was totally unexpected.

"I don't understand why this happened. He was always in this neighborhood and it's like weird how people would just run up on him like that, you know?" said Landin.

Police plan to increase patrols in the area in the next few weeks as they investigate the murder, to make sure there's no retaliation crimes.

Loved ones are also planning a car wash to pay for funeral costs.