Father, Daughter Still Hospitalized After Shooting
Neighbors said the father was not a gang member, though police said the incident was gang related
Residents reacted to a shooting Friday in Downey that seriously injured a 2-year-old girl and left her 20-year-old father in critical condition. Police say it was gang related, but residents say the father is not a gang members. Antonio Castelan reports for the NBC4 News at 6:30 p.m. at Aug. 4, 2012.
A 20-year-old man remained hospitalized in critical condition, and his 2-year-old daughter had had a bullet removed from her back Saturday after they were shot the day before in Downey.
The pair were walking home when they were targeted by several suspects who opened fire.
The man, identified by neighbors as Ivan, was shot several times. His daughter, identified as Katy Perry, underwent surgery and was said to be doing well Saturday.
A neighbor helped Ivan after he was hit before she realized that the toddler had been struck as well.
"I caught him by his shoulder -- and then he laid and he started shaking. I was trying to keep him talking," Ashley Gonzales said.
The shooting occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Friday in front of an apartment complex at 8230 Telegraph Road (map), Downey police Lt. Dean Milligan said.
One suspect was questioned, but no arrests had been made.
Police said the incident was gang-related, but neighbors said the father was not a gang member.
"I don't know anybody who want to do something like that to him," neighbor David Ibarra said.
Gonzales said the little girl had a very close call with the placement of the bullet.
"They said if it was a little lower, it would have hit her spine," Gonzales said.
A bullet was removed from her back in surgery, and she is alert and smiling, according to friends.
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