San Diego police renewed their call Wednesday for information that may lead them to whoever shot and killed a 14-year-old girl whose body was found behind a Grant Hill apartment building a week ago.
Anna Hernandez was found dead in an open area off the 2900 block of Market Street shortly before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to San Diego police. The cause of death was not immediately apparent, but an autopsy determined that she died from at least one gunshot wound to her upper body, Lt. Mike Hastings said.
Authorities have not announced any arrests in the case or released suspect information.
The teen had gone missing five days before her body was found. One of her friends, 12-year-old Nelly Espinoza, ran away the same day, and Hastings said investigators were working to determine if there was correlation between the two. It was unclear if the two left their respective homes together.
Nelly has since called members of her family and said she was staying with another relative in northern Mexico and would flee again if anyone looked for her, according to the lieutenant.
According to police, another girl, 16-year-old Janeth Mendoza, is also missing and was last seen Oct. 28. Police said Mendoza was last seen near 3000 Webster St. She is described as 5 foot 5, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and a Charger bolt tattoo on her neck as well as "Bella" on her right forearm and "Perla" on her left forearm.
It was not clear if Mendoza's disappearance may be connected to Nelly or Anna and police did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Police asked anyone with information on Espinoza's or Mendoza's whereabouts to call Officer Jose Mendoza at (619) 744-9518.
Grieving relatives and friends of the slain teenager held a vigil in her memory Tuesday night at a church a few blocks from the canyon where her body was discovered, wrapped in a blanket.
