The suspect(s) who gunned down 16-year-old Joseph Aroz in front of his family’s home remains at large.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — An investigation into a 16-year-old boy’s slaying remains open after the child was found dead 12 months ago in Coachella.
With a year gone by, investigators are once again asking the public to provide any information that might lead to Joseph Aroz’s killer.
“Extensive investigative efforts have been made over the past year, but the suspect in this incident has not been identified,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
At about 9:07 p.m. Aug. 20, 2023, Thermal Sheriff’s Station deputies were called to the 53500 block of Cesar Chavez Street. There they found Aroz. He had gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office has maintained that Aroz was murdered. A possible motive in the case has not been disclosed.
The slaying occurred amid Tropical Storm Hilary, when officials were scrambling to rescue Coachella Valley residents from significant flooding and provide resources to victims whose homes were inundated with mud and water. Many desert roads were closed due to flooding and damage.
In the days following his death, Aroz’s family spoke to local media.
According to a KESQ report, Aroz was gunned down just outside his family’s home. A neighbor heard gunshots, but a suspect was never found.
The boy was one of eight children in his family, the news outlet reported.
A GoFundMe page that was launched to help pay for Aroz’s memorial and funeral expenses includes photos of a boy with short brown hair and brown eyes.
“… he was only 16 years old,” the page reads. “Jojo was loved by all of us, by so many … our world will never be the same.”
Investigators continue to seek answers for the family.
“The Riverside Sheriff’s Office Central Homicide Unit is requesting the public’s assistance in solving this case,” the agency said Tuesday.
Anyone with information who can help identify the individual(s) responsible for Aroz’s killing is asked to contact Investigator D. Brown or Investigator V. Magana at 951-955-2777 or by email. Information can also be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office Online Tip Form.
