The Morrow County Sheriffs Office has taken the lead in the investigation of the Ariel Velasco murder. 

Velasco, 16, of Boardman, was shot and killed on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 18, in the Morrow County city near the Columbia River. Authorities have said the killing was gang related.

Initially, Boardman Police Detective Sgt. Frank Rivera was the lead investigator. But a couple of days into the case he said he talked with his police chief, John Zeiler, and with Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson to have another agency take the lead.

Ive not ever led a homicide investigation, Rivera said, It was a hard decision on my part, but I want whoever did this caught.

Nelson then asked the sheriffs office to step in last Monday. The larger agency has put two detectives on the case, Nelson said, and Boardman police will continue to assist, as will the Morrow/Umatilla Counties Major Crimes Team.  

The Boardman Police Department consists of just 11 people, including two reserve officers. Nelson said being a lead agency in this kind of case takes a substantial amount of time and resources, including assigning tasks to the major crimes team investigators, collecting all information and reports and deciding what the next step is.

Rivera said he was 100 percent certain the sheriffs office has the depth of experience and resources to conduct the investigation.

Police have been following leads but have made no arrests. Anyone with information about the crime can call the Morrow County Sheriffs Office Communications Center at 541-676-5317.