LOS ANGELES (AP) - A 5-year-old boy died Monday after he was shot in the head by suspected gang members while showing off his Halloween costume in the backyard of his South Los Angeles home, family members said.
Aaron Shannon Jr. died about 10 p.m. Monday night, hours after he was declared brain-dead by doctors at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, his grandfather William Shannon told the Los Angeles Times.
The boy's grandfather and uncle were grazed by bullets in the Sunday afternoon shooting. The two suspected gang members fled and have since eluded capture.
The grandfather, William Shannon, told the Times he was taking pictures of his grandson as he flexed his fake muscles in the South Los Angeles yard when the two men appeared in the alley. Shannon said he nodded to acknowledge the men, but then heard a pop as they opened fire and fled.
"My grandson was in a pool of blood in his Spider-man costume," Shannon told the Times.
He said he had never seen the two men before.
Police have announced no arrests or motives for the shooting, and said the family has no gang ties.
"This is absolutely horrific," Deputy Chief Pat Gannon told the Times. "It is one of the most exciting days of the year for young children, and then they opened fire on this innocent family. ... There is no reason for this shooting. It makes no sense."