One person has been arrested in connection with the death of a boy whose body was found in a Panorama City parking lot over the weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department says. 

The arrest of Bryscon Malik Gaddis, 20, comes a day after police after receiving a tip that led them to an apartment complex in Panorama City on the 14500 block of Lanark Street. According to police, the man arrested is the boyfriend of the boy's mother. 

Court records show that Gaddis was previously charged with three misdemeanors: injuring a spouse, domestic battery and false imprisonment in February 2025. 

In July, prosecutors charged him with carjacking and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, all felonies. However, the court dismissed these charges because of a "lack of a speedy trial."

Another person was also arrested for an unrelated issue. LAPD confirmed the two men arrested are brothers.

On Tuesday night, the LAPD executed a search warrant where two adults were detained, and two children were taken in by the Department of Children and Family Services. Later that night, while detectives were still collecting evidence, they detained three more adults at a second unit near Sunset Boulevard and Ivar Avenue.  

The boy, Elyjah Hearn, 5, was found on Saturday morning in a parking lot near the 8200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, adjacent to a medical building, according to police. 

"We are still in shock, and we are taking this really hard," aunt Alicia Jennings said. 

Jennings was one of the people detained on Tuesday. Her husband is Gaddis' brother. 

She added that Elyjah and her son Mesiah were best friends. 

"He plays with my child," she said. "They grew up on the spectrum of autism. So Elyjah couldn't really talk. He would learn words by being around my son. They played a lot." 

Jennings said police took her children away during the arrest. Investigators questioned Jennings but eventually released her. Authorities asked her to identify Elyjah's body. 

"I was crying all day because I was already stripped of her kids," Jennings said. "To see another child's body that I have to identify, not even thinking that could even happen, because they come over for a little bit at the house, and everything seems normal."

The boy's grandfather, Troy Hearn, described him as a joy who loved to run and play. He added that he helped raise him with his wife before her passing. 

"I'm so hurt right now and this is so hard," Hearn said. "I'm going to miss his presence."

Hearn and Jennings said they want proper justice for Elyjah. Jennings said she's still struggling to believe the allegations against her brother-in-law.

"You never know what a person is capable of until they do it," Jennings said. "Behind closed doors, something else could be going on."

Jennings said people have been attacking her and her kids. She is begging them to stop. 

Since Elyjah was found, a large memorial has continued to grow near the parking lot. Members of the community have stopped by, leaving flowers and children have also stopped to leave their own toys and pay respects. "