A man was arrested after allegedly opening fire at a heavily attended vigil for a Culver City High School graduate who was recently killed in Torrance, police announced Thursday.
The boy, identified as 17-year-old Chyler Paton, was shot to death on June 18 during a pool party in the 23000 block of Huber Avenue. According to the Torrance Police Department, no suspects were arrested in connection with Paton’s murder. His loved ones started a GoFundMe, describing the late teen as “a loving son, brother, classmate and teammate.”
On Tuesday, June 24, about 200 to 300 people attended a vigil held for Paton at the Culver City High School football field. The Culver City Police Department said it was around 7:50 p.m. when officers responded to multiple calls of shots fired in the area, located on the 11000 block of Franklin Avenue.
Officers arrived within minutes and found that there had been a physical altercation during the event, which then escalated to a shooting. No further details on the fight were immediately provided. “Fortunately, no injuries were reported,” the department said in a release. “Officers quickly secured the scene.”
Detectives also responded and soon identified the alleged gunman as 20-year-old Jonathan Plater. They did not reveal what caused the fight or whether Plater was known to Paton.
“The suspect was identified, and after conducting surveillance, obtaining search warrants, and tracking multiple leads, the suspect was located in the area of 58th Street and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles,” detailed the release. Culver City PD provided a brief video of Plater’s arrest, viewable above.
Detectives found Plater on Wednesday night, entering a car driven by a 17-year-old girl. Authorities pulled them over on 6th Avenue in L.A., detained the driver and arrested Plater without incident. He was ultimately booked for attempted murder, police say.
Anyone with additional information related to this case is urged to contact the Culver City Police Department Watch Commander at 310-253-6202.
