Girl, 3, Shot In Gang-Related Shooting, Police Say; Suspect At Large

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 3-year-old girl remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical but stable condition after she was struck by a bullet while sitting in the backseat of a car in Santa Ana, police said.

The gunfire, police said, is believed to have been gang-related and targeting a man who was also in the car.

Santa Ana Police officers were called to the scene near 15th and Spurgeon Streets just after 8 p.m. in response to a shooting, authorities said.

According to police, two bullets hit the white Nissan Altima, and one of them "traveled through the trunk, into the passenger compartment," striking the toddler, SAPD Officer Natalie Garcia said.

A 4-year-old girl was also in the backseat but was not injured, she said.

The injured girl's mother, who was driving the car, immediately drove her child to Children's Hospital of Orange County, where the girl underwent surgery. Authorities said that she is expected to survive.

Santa Ana police said investigators "believe the adult male passenger was the intended target, and the shooting was gang-related."

"Both adults were interviewed and cooperated with detectives," according to a police statement. "Neither have been arrested."

It was unclear if the man is the father of the young girls in the car.

News video from the scene showed investigators examining the family's car parked outside the hospital, with bullet holes visible in the back of the vehicle.

"Detectives are attempting to identify and locate any witnesses who can shed light on this incident," according to police. "Based on the time of day and population density of the area, detectives believe there are witnesses to this shooting. This was an act of senseless gun violence where an innocent child was shot and we are requesting the public's assistance."

Anyone with information was asked to call homicide detectives at 714- 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (847-6227).