A 3-year-old girl was hospitalized Feb. 25 after a pedestrian shot at a moving vehicle in an alleged gang-related incident, Santa Ana police said.
The child remains in the hospital in stable condition, Officer Natalie Garcia told City News Service on Feb. 26.
Police say they believe the shooting was gang-related and targeted a man in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The gunman was on foot.
The Sunday shooting happened around 8 p.m. near 15th and Spurgeon streets, Ms. Garcia said. Two bullets struck a white Nissan Altima. One entered through the trunk and struck the 3-year-old. A 4-year-old girl was also sitting in the back seat but was unharmed, Garcia said.
Three bullet shell casings were found at the scene.
The mother of the two children was driving, according to Ms. Garcia, but did not realize her daughter had been shot until moments later. She then drove to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where the girl underwent surgery. The male passenger allegedly is the boyfriend of the mother and the target of the shooting, according to police.
“Both adults were interviewed and cooperated with detectives,” according to a police statement. “Neither have been arrested.”
Investigators are using doorbell video footage to identify the shooter, police said. They are asking residents nearby for additional footage, they added.
“Detectives are attempting to identify and locate any witnesses who can shed light on this incident,” police said. “Based on the time of day and population density of the area, detectives believe there are witnesses to this shooting.”
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (847-6227).
