A 6-year-old boy was critically injured after being struck by a bullet that was fired into the air during a night of Fourth of July celebrations in a South Los Angeles neighborhood.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the call at around 8:51 p.m. The child, identified by an uncle as the youngest of four siblings, was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The shooting occurred during a family Fourth of July celebration near the intersection of San Pedro Street and Jefferson Boulevard, where the child’s parents said something fell and struck him. The boy was standing outside at the time.
The child's uncle said the bullet struck him in the head.
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A witness described a heartbreaking scene after she responded to the sound of screams.
"When we got there my husband grabbed the baby to give him first aid." said Margarita Orellana. "We thought he had fallen, but we saw he was bleeding on his head."
The child's parents were driving the boy to a hospital when they flagged down a police officer for help. Paramedics arrived to transport the victim.
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A neighbor said police appeared to be searching for evidence into the night. No arrests were reported early Wednesday.
"Nobody deserves that, and for people to do these things and not think of the consequences is really sad," Orellana said.
LAUSD Superintendent said in a statement that the boy is a student in the district.
