Global Courant
Three teenage boys were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of shooting a 1-year-old child and her mother, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
The shooting, which police said was likely gang-related, occurred around 5:30 p.m. on June 5 near 81st Street and Avalon Boulevard in South Los Angeles.
The victim and another woman, both in their 20s, had parked at a corner burger stand with their young children, ages 1 year and 8 months, in the back seat.
A gray Kia sedan pulled up next to the victim’s car and fired several shots before driving away. The shooting left the 20-year-old mother with a leg wound and her 1-year-old daughter with a foot wound, police said. Both injuries were non-fatal and the other two occupants were uninjured.
A police investigation found that the shooting was likely gang-related and that the victims had been falsely targeted by rival gang members. A search warrant yielded surveillance footage that led authorities to identify the suspects, a 17-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys. Their identities have been withheld because they are minors.
All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Wednesday. The charges have been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for consideration.
The police investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information may contact the 77th Street Area Gang Impact Team at (323) 786-5414. Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
