A 12-year-old boy was found shot dead in the Canyon Country area of Los Angeles County on Monday.

Deputies were sent to the area around Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon Roads at about 6:30 a.m., the LA County Sheriff’s Department said.

The Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner said that William Lemus Ayala was found dead on the side of the road, according to KABC.

Initially, the sheriff’s department listed the victim as a male adult.

According to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, investigators were looking at the possibility of gang ties to the death.

“We’re not going to say that the victim is directly involved in gangs,” Lt. Arturo Spencer told the Signal on Tuesday. “We’re investigating the case and looking at it as being potentially gang-related — that’s all I can say.”

Spencer said there had been no arrests and no suspect had been identified.

“We’re still in the early stages of the investigation and we’re urging the public to provide any information that we can glean any leads from,” he said.

No other information has been released.

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[Featured image: KABC screenshot]