The city of Pico Rivera is cloaked in grief and outrage following the unimaginable and unprovoked murder of 13-year-old Saith Mendez, a boy known for his devotion to his mother, who was gunned down in a act of sheer brutality while waiting for her to finish work.
The incident occurred late on the night of Saturday, August 23, 2025, just before midnight. Saith was outside the 76 gas station on the 8800 block of Whittier Boulevard, a place he often accompanied his mother to while she worked her shift. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the attack was sudden and without motive. A man in his 20s approached the young teenager and, without a single word or any attempt at robbery, opened fire. Emergency responders rushed to the scene but found Saith with multiple gunshot wounds to his back. He was pronounced dead at the location that had become a second home.
In the wake of this tragedy, a portrait of Saith has emerged, painting a picture of a kind-hearted and loving son. His mother, a single parent of five who has been living in a shelter in Long Beach, brought Saith with her to work to keep him safe and close. Friends of the family described how he would often help by picking up around the gas station, a small gesture that spoke volumes about his character.
“She’s homeless and she was living in a shelter in Long Beach and she would bring her son because she didn’t want to leave him there,” said Christine Kreimann, a friend of the family. “When she was working with customers, he would come and pick up around the gas station for her.”
The community has responded with an outpouring of support. A GoFundMe campaign established to cover funeral expenses and support the grieving family has rapidly gained traction, a testament to the impact of this loss. “As my cousin Favi is a single mother of 5, any donation or share means so much to us right now,” the page reads.
As of now, the shooter remains at large. Authorities have no suspect in custody and are pleading with the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. Detectives have stated this horrific shooting does not appear to be connected to another recent homicide in the area, deepening the mystery and the pain. The search for justice for Saith Mendez has just begun, as a family and a community struggle to comprehend a loss that defies all reason.