Community Mourns Altadena Boy Killed In Drive-By Shooting
ALTADENA (CBSLA.com) — Family and neighbors mourned Wednesday night as homicide detectives continued to seek a gunman who fatally shot a young boy and wounded a 27-year-old man in Altadena.
"It's just senseless that a child had to die the way he did," said Veronica Rodriguez, a family friend, who said the boy's mother was too distraught to speak. "She's obviously heartbroken, and she's having a hard time and she couldn't come out."
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the drive-by shooting unfolded around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of Figueroa Drive.
Upon their arrival, deputies located a 4-year-old Salvador Esparza and a black man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Paramedics took both victims to a hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
The man is receiving treatment for his injuries and is expected to survive.
A preliminary investigation revealed the suspect drove up to the home and fired at least 13 rounds, striking both victims, who were standing on the porch.
According to deputies, the adult victim was a family friend visiting the residents and is not related to the child, who lived at the home.
Detectives described the suspect as a black man who drove a dark-colored or black vehicle.
It remains unclear if there are any other additional suspects involved in this incident.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
As for the boy's mother, "she'd like everybody to remember her baby as a happy child and to pray for him. And if anybody who knows anything to please come forward," Rodriguez said.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.