2 Men, Teen-Ager Held in Lancaster Slaying

Two men and a 17-year-old boy, all from Lancaster, were arrested Tuesday in connection with a fatal June 2 shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Jim Joe McGrath, 25, and Freddy Ruiz, 22, were being held without bail on murder charges at the Antelope Valley sheriff’s station, Deputy Hal Grant said. The 17-year-old was being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Grant said.

The three were held on suspicion of killing Merle Grinder, 22, of Lancaster. Grinder, who had multiple gunshot wounds in his chest, was found about 1:30 a.m. in the street outside a party in the 46400 block of 80th Street West near Avenue H. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Grant said.