A 17-year-old found dead in a Clinton park Wednesday was fatally stabbed, apparently because three other teens mistakenly believed he was part of a rival gang, police said.

The body of Crossland High School sophomore Israel Salvador Alas was discovered on a baseball diamond in Tanglewood Community Park by someone walking through the area, police said.

On Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of three Temple Hills teens. They are being charged as adults with first-degree murder. Police said there is no evidence linking Israel to a gang.

“He was a good boy,” said Delmy Herrera, Israel’s mother. “He likes to draw.”

Alas’s family gathered at their single-story brick house in Clinton to mourn the teen. Herrera sobbed as religious music played and prayers were offered on behalf of her son.

The teens arrested in Alas’s slaying were identified as Blas Rosales-Cordona, 15; Marco Matute, 16; and Ever Lopez, 16. School officials said that at least one of the three teens was a Crossland student. They declined to provide the status of the other two teens.

Students at Crossland High School were also in mourning Thursday. Those who knew Alas cried in the hallways, and students created a banner in honor of the teen who liked art and excelled in Italian class, according to friends and school officials.

Principal Theresa Moseley Fax said a team of school psychologists and counselors would be on hand to provide support and encouraged students to support one another.

“Our school is saddened,” Moseley Fax said. “He was loved by students and staff. I just pray for his family.”

Moseley Fax said Alas, who was a student at the school for three years, did well in the school’s masonry program, which allows students to help construct a student-built home.

She added that Alas was also a “budding young artist” who had a knack for drawing self-portraits and conceptual art. She recalled one design that included an eye and a city skyline.

“His art teacher said she was going to place him in AP art classes next year because he was such a talent,” she said.

Valentino Hall, a 17-year-old student at Crossland and a close friend of Alas, also remembered the teen’s artistic talents and said Alas particularly liked to design tattoos.

Valentino said he doesn’t understand why anyone would kill the teen.

“He was a good kid,” Valentino said. “He wouldn’t hurt anybody. He would just stay to himself.”

Friends and family are planning a vigil for Alas on Sunday at the park.

He was one of six children. Upon being told that three people had been arrested in her brother’s slaying, Emelda Alas responded: “That is not enough.”

“They have no heart,” the sister said. “He didn’t deserve this.”

Source: www.washingtonpost.com