(September 2, 2005) -- A tragedy was miraculously averted on Sept. 1 when gunfire in the area of 14th St. and Peterson Ave. (east of MacArthur Park, between Orange and Walnut Aves.) narrowly missed striking a child in a babyseat in a parked vehicle.

LBPD says in a release that officers responded to a shots-fired call at about 5:15 p.m. and a preliminary investigation revealed that words were exchanged between two male Hispanics and two Male Blacks, all riding bicycles.

The verbal exchange led to at least one of the two male Blacks shooting several rounds at the two male Hispanics. The rounds struck a home, a parked car...and at least one round went through the rear of a van occupied by a family, striking a babyseat which had a child inside. [!]

That bullet exited the front windshield, leaving the baby (and others inside the van) miraculously unharmed.

LBPD says its suspect information is extremely vague...and is asking for the public's help in locating the suspect(s) involved. Anyone with information is urged to call LBPD's Gang and Violent Crimes Division at (562) 570-7370.

Meanwhile, a few hours earlier in an unrelated incident, officers spotted a person in NLB matching the description of a suspect from a robbery earlier in the day. The suspect fled; the officer pursued and the "officer observed the suspect reach into his waistband and produce a handgun. Fearing for his safety, the officer fired one round at the suspect striking him in the leg."

A gun was recovered at the scene; the suspect was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries; the officer was uninjured. The suspect, a 15 year-old male, was later identified as the suspect from the earlier robbery, LBPD says. At midafternoon, police had a heavy presence in the area of 55th Way @ Langport (west of Paramount Blvd.) searching for a second person.

Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact Detective Bryan McMahon of the Long Beach Police Department’s Homicide detail at (562) 570-7244.