Boy, 5, in critical condition after being shot in head by suspected gang member

A 5-year-old boy was in critical condition Monday after two suspected gang members walked through the alley behind his South Los Angeles home and shot him while he was in his backyard.

The boy, who was dressed as Spiderman and waiting to go to a Halloween party, was in the yard with his grandfather and uncle about 2 p.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of East 84^th Street. One of the suspects opened fired and hit him in the back of the head, said Det. Chris Barling of the Los Angeles Police Department. The grandfather was grazed in the arm by a bullet; the uncle was shot in the leg.

The boy was taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center where he remains in critical condition, Barling said.

The home in the Florence neighborhood lies near a border between two rival gangs. Detectives suspect that the men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, mistakenly thought that the family was connected to their rival gang.

Nobody at the boy's home had connections to any gangs, Barling said.

-- Stephen Ceasar

Photos: Aaron Shannon in his Halloween costume. LAPD via KTLA News

Comments

[Richard]

Poor kid. I hope he pulls through. Those stupid Florencia idiots now hurting kids. I hope the cops shoot the scum who did it.

[SWATK9]

C'mon Spiderman, you can pull through. We are rooting for you. Besides, you have to catch these cowards that did this to you. We pray for you and your family.

[DeeJay]

Florencia13 vs. East Coast Crips. Mexican vs. Black

F'ing losers killing innocent babies. These Racist idiots have been shooting at each other for years now, turning the Florence neighborhood into a nightmare for it's citizens.

This is Domestic Terrorism in our streets.

All while the Los Angeles County D.A, Steve Cooley, is too busy prosecuting medical Marijuana pharmacies, and campaigning for political self-gain. Get this idiot out of office now.

[jon Button]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever heard. I hope that boy recovers! My thoughts go out to him and his loved ones. I also wish those idiot shooters could get what they deserve, but I don't think that's constitutional.

[lisagomez]

this is a tragedy of repetive actions... this is always happening, what the heck is going on with the world. when will peolple understand that firearms are the most dangerous thing in our society. now another precious child has been a victim of senseless violence. my prayers go out to his family who are in no doubt in immense pain right now. lord blees us

[adamz]

disgusting

a 5 year old boy? wow

[kat]

This makes me so so sad for the family-- and so sad and angry at the perpetrators. THis shooting was utterly cruel and utterly inhuman. I hope the barbarians who shot the child are captured, but I also hope they and their fellow gang members could come to realize that what they have done and what they are doing is unforgivably heartless, stupid and pointless -- as well as counter-productive for the future for them, their loved ones and their communities. More than that, I hope and pray for this adorable little boy and his family.

[Diana]

A 5 year old? Seriously??!!!!!!!!! Poor kid, he'll never view Halloween with the same innocent eyes. I hope he has a speedy recovery and grows up to fight crime as one of the good guys.

[Mufon]

Are there any protests scheduled, any rallies, any indignant meetings with the police, calls for "justice," and an end to the slaughter? Oh, that's right, that's only for when a police officer shoots an armed suspect who's assaulting them, not for when criminals are shooting citizens and children. My mistake.

[Michael W]

This is just terrible. Hopefully they find the guys and throw them in jail for life. Should the worst happen and this boy doesn't make it, execute the gang members. The only abstract positive is that the level of violent crimes in LA has gone down in recent years. Still, this is tragic.

[Lee]

This is beyond sickening. My heart aches for this cute, little boy and his family. All he wanted to do was go trick-or-treating for Halloween.
Rival gangs? Does it really matter which gang is on who's turf, etc.? Newsflash: It's not YOUR turf, it's EVERYONE's land. These subhumans need more than jail. They can be the example for what can happen to a "person" who inflicts harm on another for just living. Torture would be a good start, then eventually end with death.

[syscom3]

So now the gangsters are targeting the children.

And yet the community is not enraged and shrugs this off like it was an everyday occurrence.

[darren]

Even if the family was connected to a rival gang, shoot the banger, not the kids! Pathetic gangsters, cowards. Can't even do real confrontations anymore, always got to be about the drive-by shootings. Man up at least.

[gmill]

absolutely sickening.

[Randy L AZ Resident]

What a horrible city Los Angeles is.

[destiny36]

Look at this precious, innocent little boy. He was probably so excited about going trick-or-treating with his grandpa. But the thugs who care only about themselves, their gang and the STREETS THEY WILL NEVER OWN put this little boy's life in the balance. I will continue to pray for this baby and his family. I don't even know him but I am crying as I read this.

[Ali]

I hope they find these guys and hang them by their toes. No child deserves to EVER be hurt. Now this poor boy is fighting for his life. If only there was legal public beatings for people who hurt children. These guys would on top of the list. They are disgusting scum. I hop ethe LAPD does everything to find these Jerks. I only call them Jerks because what I want to call them is most likely not allowed on this commenting block.

[Janice]

Whatever is this world coming to when children have to pay the price for what their family does or where they live should not be a death camp. This was just a little boy who had never hurt anyone in his little life.

[augman]

... and I think to myself ... what a wonderful world ....

[daphne]

This is too much to take. I hope he recovers. What a beautiful little boy.

[Anita Fuentes]

Jesus will heal this child miraculously and completely and the family will be healed of their emotional and physical wounds of this tragedy. These 2 men will receive Jesus. In Jesus name, amen.
www.fuentesevangelism.com

[tere]

these rival gang members r useless pieces of crap. Now some poor lil boy is fighting for his life because two idiots are fighting for turf they don't belong to them? This is the taxpayers turf axx-holes!!! The U.s.A. shouldn't spend our tax paying money on sending our U.S. troops to fight some retarded war. We should b sending all these idiots that have nothing better to do but kill one another. UGH!!!!

[James]

This story just sickens me,
a gang member opened fire on a small group of people who weren't doing anything wrong,
I just hope the little boy will recover.

[haftasayit]

go@@amn gangbangers!

[Cheryl]

Dear God please let this boy make a swift and full recovery. How unfair to him that he was just an innocent bystander in this horrible accident.