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    Suspect in fatal shooting of boy at Pico Rivera gas station claims mental incompetency
    • April 10, 2026

    The criminal case against a man accused of gunning down a 13-year-old Costa Mesa boy at a Pico Rivera gas station was suspended this week while a court decides if he is mentally competent to stand trial.

    The defense declared a doubt as to Andres Adan Chavez’s competency during his April 8 court appearance at Norwalk Superior Court, according to Pamela Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

    His next court date is April 22 at Hollywood Court for a mental competency hearing, court records show.

    Under the law, to be mentally incompetent means a defendant can’t cooperate with his attorney in his own defense or he doesn’t understand the nature of the proceedings due to mental illness, developmental disability or both.

    Chavez had been charged with the Aug. 23, 2025 murder of Saith Toledo Mendez at the 76 station on the 8800 block of Whittier Boulevard.

    Mendez’s mother was working at the gas station that night.

    Mendez got out of his mother’s car where he was waiting and entered the gas station to speak with her, Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference asking for the public’s help finding the suspect.

    As the 13-year-old walked out of the building, a car stopped by one of the gas pumps. The driver headed to the service window and started talking to Mendez’s mother, Luna said.

    Chavez, who was sitting in the back seat, stepped out of the car and lingered around. Mendez walked past him.

    “Unprovoked, and I repeat that unprovoked, suspect Chavez drew a firearm, took several steps toward Saith and shot him at close range,” Luna said. “After Saith collapsed to the ground, suspect Chavez drew a firearm and proceeded to stand over him and fire multiple rounds into Saith.”

    After the shooting, Chavez ran. Mendez died at the scene.

    Detectives arrested Chavez on Aug. 28, 2025.

    As of Friday, he was being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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