California Shooting: Pregnant Teen Shot For No Reason

An 18-year-old teenager, around six to seven months pregnant, became victim to a California shooting at Los Angeles’ Toberman Park. She was rushed to the hospital late Sunday night after being hit by bullets numerous times. NBC reports that the incident seems to be unprovoked.

The young woman, who has yet to be identified, was walking in the Pico-Union district’s Toberman Park at around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night when the shooting occurred. According to Sgt. Herb Chang of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Rampart Station, a man approached the teen and began firing off random shots. Witness Jonathan Diaz says that he heard at least six shots fired.

“About six shots and that’s when the cops came in. It’s pretty bad. Pretty sad, too.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that the teen went into emergency surgery on Monday. She is in critical but stable condition. Along with being shot several times in the torso, she also suffers from a broken leg where one of the bullets hit. Miraculously, the unborn baby was not hit, and is said to be doing fine.

Although the L.A.P.D. doesn’t know if the incident was provoked or if the suspect knew the victim, there is indication that it may possibly be gang-related.

“We’re aware that it does become violent at night just like any other city, any city park where gang members congregate.”

Shortly after the shooting, the suspect, described as a Hispanic male wearing a white t-shirt, blue baseball cap, and blue shorts, ran away towards 17th Street. Anyone with information is urged to contact the L.A.P.D.

Toberman Park, located close north of the 10 Freeway in central Los Angeles, has become polluted lately with graffiti and as a hangout area of the Burlington Locos gang. Neighbors indicate that there is often drinking, fighting, and random criminal activities going on at the park, usually at night. Others, however, such as 28-year-old Rosa Martinez, think that the issues in the park are relatively minor.

“It’s calm here. Nothing like this has happened here until now. It takes me by surprise.”

One thing that most neighbors agreed on, however, is that it’s extremely uncommon to hear that the victim of such a heinous crime is a young, pregnant woman, especially since the attack seems, at this point, unprovoked by the victim in any way.

Just days after the incident, another California shooting took place in Stockton. Three people were killed and four were injured in a drive-by shooting. Police are still investigating.

[Photo Courtesy of Onscene.TV]