VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (WVEC) — Police have ruled the death of a teenager a homicide after he was found shot in the back of the head in a lake.
Jairo Sanchez Guardado, 19, died from a single gunshot wound at Smith Lake behind Habitat Lane, documents state. On July 6th, items were found under his body that police used to try and track down suspects.
The paperwork said a Corona brand beer bottle, cigarette, and a lanyard with a truck key were recovered. Authorities later found out the lanyard and key belonged to the victim.
A day after the victim’s body was found, his truck was recovered in a city parking lot off Shell Road.
Documents said police questioned the parking security guard and he said he heard what sounded like a firework or gunshot the night before Guardado’s body was found. He confronted three males in the area, one of whom said it was a firework. All three males soon ran off, documents stated.
Police circled their investigation back to the victim’s truck, which was still in the city parking lot two days after the victim was found. They found a 7-Eleven receipt date stamped July 5th. A Corona brand beer and “tobacco smoking product” was purchased.
Documents stated that police went to the store in Norfolk to review security footage. An unknown male was seen exiting the driver seat of the victim’s truck, then went inside to purchase the items. The male was also wearing Guardado’s lanyard and key around his neck. Police asked for a bank identification number from a card used at the store to track down suspects.
A Virginia Beach Police spokesperson told 13News Now, “this is a very active,multi-jurisdictional, criminal investigation.”
No further comment was given about a motive or arrests.
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