Man sentenced to prison for shooting Long Beach boy in head

A convicted felon whose bullet meant for another man hit a 4-year-old in the head as the Long Beach boy was playing outside was sentenced Monday to 35 years to life in prison.

James Leland Landrum Sr., 47, was convicted March 28 of one count of attempted murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm, said Deputy L.A. County Dist. Atty. Dean Bengston.

Times' coverage: Victims of gang violence

A fight erupted in July 2009 between Landrum and another man in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Earl Avenue near East 21st Street.

Both men ran into the street when Landrum pulled a gun and fired once, Bengston said.

Josue Hercules was playing in front of his house with his sister when the bullet hit him in the back of the head, skirting his skull and lodging near his eye.

His sister carried him into the house, where his mother, Wendy Andrade, put her finger in the wound to keep it from getting worse on the way to hospital.

The boy appears to have recovered from the shooting, but Andrade told The Times in December, “I do not know what will happen to my son's life.”

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-- Richard Winton

Photo: Josue Hercules bears an ugly scar in 2009 after being struck by a bullet while he was playing outside. Credit: Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[ASHASH]

Such coward these men are to resort to a gun to "resolve a problem" Idiots!
Thank God this little boy survived.

[victor]

he should get life in prision without the posibility of parole

[natalie sifuentes]

This precious little boy looks identical to my 2 year old son, I also have a 7 year old daughter and when I read how Josue's sister carried him into their home I could picture my daughter and son in this horrible situation, my heart goes out to him and his family. His big sissy and mommy saved his life. His survival is amazing and inspirational. Wow, I can only imagine how great this little boy will grow up to be.

[tracy]

this man did wrong he will pay for what god grant him, jesus forgives us, so we can forgive this man, he is a good hearted man my daughter is disable, she has brin damage, the doctor, cause her damage, i forgave them, please search your heart to forgive this man, and let's pray for the little boy god will give him many blessing, he's my husband.

[izzy]

my father is a good man i know deep down in his heart he would help and fight for anyone when i was young he taught me how to be a good man and take care of the family i feel deeply sorry for this lil boy and pray for he to be better my 21 year old sister is competle disable and know how it is to have someone heart in life i hope that god forgives my dad and for you to call him a coward is weak he just a man that made a huge mistake and is paying for it

[pie]

We all do bad things, we can't lie. We all make mistakes, we can't lie. This man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did a bad thing, he made a mistake. And I forgive him, this man has changed this little boys life and the kids families life, but this man has also changed his life and his families life. This man will never get to see his 17 year old daughter walk across the stage and graduate or never watch his son play at his first ever high school basketball game, he will never get to grow old with his wife. I think people aren't looking at both stories here, yes he was wrong, yes he made a mistake and he knows that! Hes not stupid, hes not an idiot! He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We never know whats going on in another person's life but still we assume, and judge them even though we have no idea what that person is going through. This man has always had a hard life and has never been good at making decisions but he is a good man, and a caring father, and a loving husband. I know if he could he would go back and change what hes done. I know its killing him that he has ruined alot of lives, and its killing me knowing that no one knows this man and yet they call him an idiot or monster. I love this man and I apologize to the family of young boy. I will just be counting down the days till I can see and hold my father again.

[Monica]

This man IS a coward. No one should respect this coward. He intended to shoot another human being and shot a little boy. Why would you even bring a gun out in the first place if you see little children playing outside. Even if he didnt shoot the innocent little boy, he was intended to shoot someone. He is a convicted FELON! He should serve life. I can not imagine my daughter playing outside and bam she is shot. I will make sure the shooter is serving hard time in prison or get the death sentence. I am glad that the precious boy survived. He will forever remember that day and his family. His family should get the justice they deserve. It may be killing you father that he hurted a little boy but just imagine if he would of killed the man he intended to shoot. He would of not been hurting! This man wasn't in the wrong place in the wrong time. He shouldn't of pulled a gun on period! It was his WRONG, even if the other guy started the fight. People make mistakes but intending to kill someone is not a mistake. He doesn't deserve to see light. PERIOD! Your sister may be disabled but look now, your father caused another life to be disabled forever. Leaving a scar on a little boy!