Girl, 5, shot in cheek as family drives on South L.A. street

A 5-year-old girl riding in the back seat of her parents' vehicle was shot in the left cheek Tuesday evening in South Los Angeles, police said.

The girl was in stable condition at a local hospital, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Police said several shots rang out about 5 p.m. as the father drove north on Hooper Avenue near 55th Street.

"The girl started screaming," LAPD Officer Karen Rayner said.  The father turned around and saw that his daughter was wounded, she said. He drove her to a hospital.

The girl was in the rear middle seat. Her father and mother were in the front seat.

Police had not determined a motive or apprehended any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call 877-LAPD 24-7.

[Update 11:30 p.m.: Since January 2007, at least 41 homicides have occurred within one mile of the location where the girl was wounded Tuesday, according to data collected for The Times' interactive Homicide Report.]

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[Jose Jimenez]

The first time I recall going to South LA was five years ago. We were coming from a family member house, going to Compton. In the Watts or North of Watts, we heard gun shots near in the intersection we were. I have heard gun shots in Compton, but not so nearby like that day. It was frighten. But once we pass the 105 freeway you could see a great difference.

I pray that the little girl has a safe recovery and that this kinds of act decrease each year.