Uncle of 2-year-old fatally shot in head is fighting for his own life

Police continued Tuesday to investigate the killing of a 2-year-old boy who was shot on the porch of a South Los Angeles home while being held by his uncle, who also was hit by gunfire and was battling for his life.

Multiple shots were fired about 8:30 p.m. Monday in the 1200 block of East 55th Street, LAPD spokesman Lyle Knight said.

Both the toddler and the uncle, described by police as a man in his 30s, were shot in the head.

Paramedics took them to a hospital, where the child died and the uncle remained in critical condition.

Police said Monday night that they believed the pair were probably unintended victims, but an investigation was ongoing.

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2-year-old boy is shot dead, uncle critically wounded outside South L.A. home

-- Kurt Streeter

Map: The Times Homicide Report shows the location of Monday's shooting in purple and other homicides within a mile since January 2007 in red. Credit: L.A. Times Homicide Report

Photo: Joshua Montes at 8 months old. Joshua was fatally shot Monday. Credit: Family photo