Teen Arraigned in Fatal Shooting of S. County Man

A teenager was arraigned Friday in Compton Juvenile Court on charges that he shot and killed a Laguna Hills man during a carjacking attempt last month in Carson, officials said.

The 16-year-old from Los Angeles is suspected of shooting Alan Peterson on Nov. 14 for refusing to hand over the keys to his Lexus outside of a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant. Two other suspects have not been caught.

The teen already was in custody on unrelated charges of carjacking, kidnapping and robbery when he was linked to Peterson’s slaying, said Dave Newbarr, a Los Angeles deputy district attorney. He would not discuss the evidence that connected the teen to the murder.

“Obviously, we think we can prove it,” Newbarr said. “In terms of going into the facts of the case, we’re not prepared to do that.”

Newbarr did say, however, that the teen in custody is believed to have pulled the trigger.

Family members of the victim, who worked as a highway engineer, are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the remaining suspects.

“My family, my father’s friends are only more interested at pursuing the capture and conviction of the two suspects at large,” said Alan Peterson Jr., the victim’s son, who lives in Newport Beach.