Witnesses described a chaotic scene at a Pico Rivera strip mall as a father conducted CPR on his 1-year-old son, who later died at a hospital.
The father said he found the boy in distress in the family's sport utility vehicle. It was not immediately clear how long the boy had been inside the SUV, parked outside a dental office in a Pico Rivera strip mall.
Sheriff's homicide detectives were investigating the death.
The family's hatchback SUV was still open late Wednesday and parked at the strip mall in the 20700 block of Amar Road, where the discovery was made about 5:45 p.m.
The father found his baby boy in distress in the rear-facing car seat. By the time first responders arrived, the boy had been rushed into the Skyline Dentist office.
"They saw the father conducting CPR on the 1 1/2-year-old child. They took life-saving efforts," Lt. Brandon Dead of the LA County Sheriff's Department Homicide Division said.
The child died at a hospital.
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His father was last seen in a patrol car, detained by deputies. The boy's mom arrived later, and also was detained for questioning.
"Very chaotic scene going on," said witness Justin Gonzalez. "Seen a lot of women from the nail shop, outside, frantic, in tears. That's when I knew something was wrong."
The death investigation was ongoing, with people in the area wondering how and why the boy died.
"It's unimaginable something like this could happen -- heartbreaking," said Melody Chin.
