LANCASTER, CA – A road rage incident in Lancaster on Friday evening turned tragically fatal, ending in the shooting death of a 4-year-old boy. The horrifying event took place around 7:29 p.m. on the 44600 block of Sierra Highway.
According to the Lancaster Sheriff’s station, the incident began when the suspects’ car cut off the victims- a couple with their young son- near the intersection of Sierra Highway and East Avenue J. Instead of disengaging, the suspects reportedly followed the family through multiple streets.
As per the sheriff’s department statement, the suspects initiated the fatal attack when the victims’ vehicle slowed down. The suspects pulled up alongside the victims’ car and opened fire. The couple’s 4-year-old son, who was in the backseat, was hit in the upper torso by the gunfire.
The child was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital by his parents. However, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
In a swift response to the horrific incident, authorities located the suspects’ vehicle in the vicinity shortly after the shooting took place. As a result, a 29-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman have been taken into custody in connection with the child’s death.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris commended the efficiency of the law enforcement response in a social media post, attributing the swift arrest to the city’s new flock camera safety net. He stated that the suspects were identified and located within 24 hours of the incident, enabling the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to issue and execute the necessary search warrants at a local hotel.
The investigation remains ongoing with local law enforcement urging anyone with information related to the tragic incident to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau, either directly or through the Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line.