Young Shooting Victim Identified

Authorities on Friday identified the 12-year-old boy who died in what police believe was an accidental shooting at the home of a friend in Paramount.

Felix Tapia Jr. and the 14-year-old friend were playing with a loaded rifle Thursday evening in the 16400 block of Virginia Avenue, according to the Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s office.

“Detectives have learned that the father, who left the location for a short period of time to go to a local store, stored the rifle in a bedroom at the residence,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Al Grotefend. “The weapon was apparently stored loaded. When he returned from the store, paramedics were attending to his son’s wounded friend.”

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. Felix suffered a single gunshot wound to the upper torso and died at the scene, authorities said.

Detectives said they had not determined whether they would seek criminal charges in the case but said all details would be presented to the district attorney’s office for review.

Authorities did not release the names of the rifle owner and his son.