Sleeping 12-year-old boy shot in Santa Fe Springs (KTLA-TV) |
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (KTLA) -- Police are looking for the gunman who shot a 12-year-old boy as he slept inside his home in Santa Fe Springs.
Police say the suspect or suspects opened fire on a home in the 9300 block of Danby Ave. around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Family members said they were talking in the living room, and the boy was sleeping in a nearby bedroom, when multiple shots rang out.
Two bullets hit the sleeping boy. One grazed his leg and the other shattered his knee, authorities said.
He was taken by ambulance to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier.
"They just got word that they're actually releasing him, but he does have a shattered knee," the boy's aunt, Gaby Sotelo, told KTLA.
"He's gonna need surgery on it. So for now, they just put a cast on it."
The victim's cousin, Angel Sotelo, said he was sleeping on the couch at the time of the shooting.
"I eventually woke up and I was on the couch, and I just rolled to the floor because I [saw] everyone on the floor," Angel said.
"I was scared because I didn't know what to do."
Angel said his cousin plays football for the city of Santa Fe Springs.
"He's okay," Angelo said about his cousin. "Just his leg's hurting really bad and he can't walk on it."
Police say they believe the shooting was gang-related, possibly targeting one of the family members.
That did not sit well with Gaby Soleto.
"They're trying to put that off on past years, which still doesn't make it right," Sotelo said.
"Instead of being victimized once, we're being victimized twice, being told that we're at fault pretty much," she said. "What happened to protect and serve?"
The family says they are relieved that nobody else was hurt, and they hope police will catch those responsible.
"There are so many kids that could have been injured and it could have ended tragic, and they're out there free and happy," Sotelo said.
No suspect information was immediately released.
Police have not confirmed whether the incident was a drive-by shooting. They say that all they know is that the bullets came from outside.
Anyone with information is asked to call Whittier police.
Police say the suspect or suspects opened fire on a home in the 9300 block of Danby Ave. around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Family members said they were talking in the living room, and the boy was sleeping in a nearby bedroom, when multiple shots rang out.
Two bullets hit the sleeping boy. One grazed his leg and the other shattered his knee, authorities said.
He was taken by ambulance to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier.
"They just got word that they're actually releasing him, but he does have a shattered knee," the boy's aunt, Gaby Sotelo, told KTLA.
"He's gonna need surgery on it. So for now, they just put a cast on it."
The victim's cousin, Angel Sotelo, said he was sleeping on the couch at the time of the shooting.
"I eventually woke up and I was on the couch, and I just rolled to the floor because I [saw] everyone on the floor," Angel said.
"I was scared because I didn't know what to do."
Angel said his cousin plays football for the city of Santa Fe Springs.
"He's okay," Angelo said about his cousin. "Just his leg's hurting really bad and he can't walk on it."
Police say they believe the shooting was gang-related, possibly targeting one of the family members.
That did not sit well with Gaby Soleto.
"They're trying to put that off on past years, which still doesn't make it right," Sotelo said.
"Instead of being victimized once, we're being victimized twice, being told that we're at fault pretty much," she said. "What happened to protect and serve?"
The family says they are relieved that nobody else was hurt, and they hope police will catch those responsible.
"There are so many kids that could have been injured and it could have ended tragic, and they're out there free and happy," Sotelo said.
No suspect information was immediately released.
Police have not confirmed whether the incident was a drive-by shooting. They say that all they know is that the bullets came from outside.
Anyone with information is asked to call Whittier police.
