A couple in Los Angeles met a tragic end as they were fatally shot, with their infant seated in the back of their car during the incident, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The baby also suffered gunshot wounds but managed to survive the harrowing attack.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department discovered Carlos Loera, aged 21, and Ashley Guzman, aged 18, with gunshot injuries in the Harbor City neighborhood of the city on Monday evening. Regrettably, Loera succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while Guzman was rushed to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her wounds, as reported by the police.
The couple’s one-year-old child was positioned in a child safety seat in the rear of their vehicle and was unfortunate enough to be hit by gunfire, as the police confirmed. The baby received medical attention at the hospital and was later released to relatives.
Law enforcement authorities have yet to identify a suspect and are enlisting the support of the community to resolve this heinous crime.
According to The Los Angeles Times, investigators suspect that one or more assailants approached the victims, who were inside the car, and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The Times reported that there were multiple bullet holes in the driver’s side window of the car, and an evidence marker was placed next to a Nike Air Max shoe near the vehicle.
ABC 7 stated that the police believe the shooting had ties to gang activity and was not a random assault. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to raise funds for the family of the victims.
The organizer of the GoFundMe wrote, “This small family had a lifetime ahead of them but tragically their lives were cut short. Now a baby will have to grow up without his parents, and the families will have to endure the anguish caused by this senseless act of violence.”
The fundraising effort commenced on Wednesday and aims to gather $30,000. The organizer also mentioned, “Despite being a young father, Carlos loved his family deeply and was striving to provide a better life for them. He grew up in a single-parent household and as he matured, he assumed the role of a provider, assisting his mother with their family’s responsibilities.”