Teen Death Possibly Related to Binge Drinking NR120104kr

March 5, 2012

Los Angeles:  Mission Area detectives are investigating the death of a 17-year-old high school student that appears to be alcohol related.

On Saturday, March 3, 2012, at around 9:15 a.m., officers received a radio call of a death investigation in the 8000 block of Cedros Avenue.  Arriving officers found Salvador Preciado lying on the floor of the apartment where Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel had pronounced him dead.

Preciado attended Panorama High School and was a resident of Panorama City.  Investigators learned that Preciado had been at a party with several friends on Friday evening where he drank a variety of alcoholic beverages before he “passed out”.  A friend drove him to another friend’s apartment where they called Preciado’s mother to inform her of his condition.   Those in the apartment fell asleep and awoke at around 8:45 a.m. when Preciado’s mother arrived to pick him up.  Preciado was unresponsive and paramedics were called.

There is no evidence that Preciado met with foul play and detectives believe Preciado died from alcohol intoxication.  The exact cause of death will not be determined until the Coroner’s investigation and toxicology reports are completed, which could take eight to twelve weeks.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Mission Area Homicide Detectives, Detective Gene Parshall at (818) 838-9810.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.