(April 22, 2003, posted 9:35 p.m.) -- A 7-yr old boy was struck in the foot by stray gunfire earlier tonight near NLB's Bret Harte Elementary School.
We post as breaking news; details are sketchy. LBPD Public Information Officer Jana Blair tells LBReport.com that at about 7:40 p.m., shots rang out in the area of Gaviota Ave. and South St. and the child was struck. It's currently uncertain whether he was on school grounds, but he was in the area of the school.
PIO Blair indicates that at this early stage, it appears two male African Americans had an argument (one in a vehicle, one on a corner) which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. The child, some distance away, was unrelated to these individuals...but was hit in the foot by one of their stray bullets.
The child's injuries are reportedly minor...at least medically.
[LBReport.com comment: Consider what impact this must have had on the child...and his parents...and on the neighborhood.]